DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH FOR
FLORIDA AG IN THE CLASSROOM IN 2004

By Lisa Gaskalla

Introducing innovative programs and tapping grassroots networks helped Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. increase the number of teachers and students reached last year. Florida Ag in the Classroom grew by 71 percent the number of teachers reached, and by 26 percent the number of students affected in 2004.

"When we called on our dedicated industry volunteers, they came through in a big way," said Scott Emerson, chairman of Florida Ag in the Classroom. "They understand the importance of the program and are eager to help educate and expose teachers and students to Florida agriculture. We appreciate very much all they do for us."

Florida Ag in the Classroom's mission: Expand youth awareness and understanding of Florida agriculture and natural resources by integrating agricultural concepts into core educational disciplines and Florida Ag in the Classroom's supporting programs.

It's top priorities: To develop, promote and disseminate current curricula, materials and programs to increase agricultural literacy among educators and youth; to cultivate and maintain partnerships between Florida Ag in the Classroom and Florida's agricultural community, educators and the National Ag in the Classroom program; to build financial strength for Florida Ag in the Classroom programs; and to be accountable for the educational and financial efficacy of Florida Ag in the Classroom programs.

Gainesville-based Florida Ag in the Classroom is funded by the agriculture specialty tag - the Ag Tag - and takes seriously its responsibility to educate students and teachers who are unfamiliar with agriculture. It offers curricula and materials that help teachers incorporate agricultural concepts in their language arts, math, science and social studies classes in kindergarten through 12th grade.

To support teachers and grassroots efforts, Florida Ag in the Classroom introduced three new programs and events: AgriSmarts, Ag Learning Barns and Agriculture Literacy Day. These programs helped raise awareness of Florida agriculture to more than 5,800 teachers and more than 229,000 students in 2004, up from 3,391 teachers and 181,758 students in 2003.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson congratulated Florida Ag in the Classroom for its successful industry partnerships and its growing number of student and teacher constituents.

"Reaching Florida's students and teachers with the message of the importance of agriculture is a key part of preserving Florida's farming heritage," Commissioner Bronson said. "It's clear Florida Ag in the Classroom is working hard to reach out to as many students and teachers as possible with the help of its partners, and we wish them continued success as they try to reach out to even more."

To continue to grow the number of students and teachers it reaches in 2005, Florida Ag in the Classroom is redesigning and relocating its web site to make ordering materials and participating in workshops and other programs easier. In addition, it is improving its existing programs and introducing new ones with the help of its board of directors of industry representatives and its new Educator and Volunteer advisory panels.

Participants in an Ag in the Classroom facilitator workshop learn curricula that they will teach other educators in their districts. Here they practice a lesson on pollination.

"We believe the best way to improve on what we're doing is to ask the advice of the teachers and industry volunteers who are using our materials and programs," Emerson said.

As part of its grassroots network, Florida Ag in the Classroom has partnered with students who are already familiar with Florida agriculture -- FFA members. To help spread the word about the importance of Florida agriculture, Florida Ag in the Classroom and Florida FFA developed AgriSmarts, an educational program used by FFA chapters to teach school children and civic organizations about Florida Ag in the Classroom and Florida agriculture.

Florida Ag in the Classroom has spent $13,000 on AgriSmarts since its inception in 2002. It reached 15 schools and nearly 1,200 students during the 2003-04 school year, Florida Ag in the Classroom estimates. It's being offered again this school year.

In addition, Florida Ag in the Classroom has awarded agriscience teachers $20,000 in grant money for outreach programs since the 2001-02 school year, and $100,000 for the initial funding of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' AgriScience Leadership Program.

Ag Learning Barns are mobile units built to look like red barns and outfitted with shelves that hold educational materials.

Another new program, Ag Learning Barn, has taken off since its inception in mid 2003. Thirty-five counties have signed up for barns, about half of which have built their barns and are moving them to schools. Two more counties are waiting for approval.

Ag Learning Barns are mobile units built to look like red barns and outfitted with shelves that hold books, videos, games and toys that teachers can borrow to teach their students the importance of agriculture. Florida Ag in the Classroom reimburses each county representative's organization up to $1,000 to build and stock the barn, and offers $350 after the first school year to restock it.

County Farm Bureau members, University of Florida/IFAS extension agents, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services representatives and industry association representatives have taken the lead on building Ag Learning Barns in their counties. In addition to building and stocking the barns, these industry partners move the barns to five schools during the school year.

These industry partners, together with FFA students and teachers, are the key participants involved in another new Florida Ag in the Classroom initiative, Agriculture Literacy Day.

Plant City Exceptional Student Education teacher Judy Der received Florida Ag in the Classroom's Overall Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award for 2004.

Florida's first Ag Literacy Day held March 16, 2004 generated interest from 282 industry volunteers, more than Florida Ag in the Classroom expected. It's set for March 17 this year.

In honor of that day, industry volunteers read a designated book about agriculture and distribute book marks listing Florida farmers' contributions to the state's economy and environment to elementary school students around the state.

Industry participants visited more than 2,000 classrooms and 41,000 students in honor of Ag Literacy Day in 2004. Florida Ag in the Classroom spent about $10,000 on the event, much of it on buying the books that were donated to school libraries.

Florida Ag in the Classroom reached even more teachers and students through other special efforts.

"We are proud of the strong growth we experienced in 2004, and we will work hard to do the same in 2005, "Emerson said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT LISA GASKALLA BY CALLING (352) 846-1391, (352) 745-0246 OR EMAILING LBGaskalla@ifas.ufl.edu.