From beef to bees, students who may have never set foot on a farm are learning about Florida agriculture thanks to drivers who buy the agriculture license plate – better known as the “Ag Tag.”

Funds generated by sales of the tags go to Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Gainesville that helps teachers educate Florida students about the importance of agriculture.

The group's mission is to expand youth awareness and understanding of Florida agriculture and natural resources by integrating agricultural concepts into core educational disciplines and programs supported by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom.

Executive Director Lisa Gaskalla brings it all together with the help of a board of directors representing various facets of Florida agriculture.

“Florida Agriculture in the Classroom definitely depends on the grassroots efforts of its industry board of directors and industry volunteers statewide to educate students and teachers about the importance of agriculture,” Gaskalla said. “The thousands of volunteers who participate in our programs help reach that many more teachers and students.”

An annual highlight was this year's Florida Agriculture Literacy Day on March 23. Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and many others marked the day by reading a specially designated book to elementary students.

Bronson and about 1,100 farmers, ranchers, members of local FFA chapters, agriculture industry volunteers and educators read to more than 2,300 elementary classrooms around the state. "I enjoy reading to the students as part of Florida Agriculture Literacy Day each year," Bronson said. "They are truly interested in what farmers do for living, and it's a great way to educate these young people about where their food, fiber and landscape materials come from."

Bronson read "These Florida Farms!" to Darrell Dawson's second-grade class at Bond Elementary School in Tallahassee. Department employees Gary Seamans and Mike Wright wrote and illustrated the book, in which a safari guide takes two children on a tour of Florida agriculture to show them that food, clothing and other items come from the farm and not from the store.

Click here to download a PDF version of "These Florida Farms!"

MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM

Students learn about citrus as part of Florida Ag in the Classroom curricula, funded by proceeds from the sale of the Ag Tag.

Curricula include “Keeping Florida Green” for grades 6 through 8, an interdisciplinary collection of hands-on activities that comply with the Sunshine State Standards, and “Project Food, Land and People Resources for Learning,” which can be taught at all grade levels and features hands-on activities and interdisciplinary agricultural/environmental lessons.

Other materials include activity newspapers such as “The Science and Technology of Florida Agriculture” and “Florida Agriculture – Growing up Healthy with Food from Florida.” They include exercises and facts about Florida agriculture aimed at third- through fifth-graders.

And “Ag Learning Barns” are traveling exhibits that tell the story of agriculture via videos, activity books, toys, puzzles and more. These portable structures are used as lending libraries, which travel to schools on a rotating basis.

ONGOING EDUCATION, RECOGNITION

Florida Ag in the Classroom also recognizes outstanding teachers and volunteers with annual awards.

Winners are honored at the State Teacher & Volunteer Workshop, to be held this year at the Daytona Beach Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach June 18-20. The popular workshop updates participants on new and creative ways to present Ag in the Classroom materials and offers a chance to tour farms and ranches. Teachers earn in-service points for attending. Information on “Catching the Wave of Florida Agriculture Education,” this year’s workshop, is available on the Ag in the Classroom Web site.

In addition to the state workshop, Ag in the Classroom sponsors about 20 county workshops throughout the state. And a new online teacher workshop has been introduced. The free training is packed with lessons from core curricula and offers professional development points for teachers who complete the program.

Teacher and volunteer grants also are awarded annually, funding numerous projects throughout the state aimed at providing hands-on learning experiences for students of all grade levels.

SALES STEADILY GROWING

Since the first Ag Tag was unveiled in 1997, sales have been steadily increasing. Ag Tag proceeds for 2008 totaled $363,594 with 17,822 tags purchased.

“Given the difficult economic times we currently face, we were very pleased that Ag Tag sales increased last year,” Gaskalla said.

Purchase an ag tag online or visit your local tag office.

In addition to accessing its Web site, you can reach Florida Ag in the Classroom at (850) 846-1391.