Teaching Teachers About Ag

Teachers learn ways to bring agriculture to the classroom
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:53 AM CDT

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS - A group of elementary school teachers from across Texas recently spent a week on Tarleton State University’s campus participating in the 15th annual Summer Agricultural Institute.

The Texas Farm Bureau sponsors the event in which educators attend workshops and participate in activities learning ways to take agriculture back to their classrooms. The teachers receive continuing education credits to help satisfy the requirements of their local school districts and three hours of graduate credit from Tarleton.

The week’s events included a field trip with destinations such as Veldhuizen Cheese Shoppe, Callaway Rope Company, Dublin Dr Pepper, Sierra Dairy and more.At the end of their visit, the teachers were treated to a catered dinner at Tarleton’s dining hall.

Keynote speaker Dr. George Austin, retired agronomist from Texas AgriLife Research, reiterated the week’s message of the importance of agriculture in the classroom. Read More

I believe that it is critical for agriculture to have a presence in our classrooms. Either through programs like this that educate the teachers about agriculture, or else using projects like Ag In The Classroom. The other option that is the best in my opinion is for farmers and ranchers to go into some local classrooms themselves to talk to the kids. My wife and I have done this a few times and it’s always a great experience. The kids are so excited to have someone else besides their teacher in the room and are eager to hear what you have to say.