IT'S YEAR FOUR FOR AG LITERACY DAY

Take a break March 15 (or whenever you can) and read to local kids about agriculture

At first glance, it looks like one of those "Cat in the Hat" books from our childhood. Turns out, it is - and it isn't. "Oh Say Can You Seed," by Bonnie Worth and Aristides Ruiz, is part of an offshoot series called, the Cat in the Hat Learning Library. And it's the featured book in this year's Ag Literacy Day.

Agriculture industry volunteers will be reading the book to school children on March 15 during the statewide event sponsored by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Prudential CARES also contributed funds for the event, as did the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association's Frontrunner Chapter.

Volunteers including farmers, ranchers, FFVA members, extension and 4-H agents as well as representatives of the agriculture industry plan to visit classrooms and toss out lines like these from page one:

"I'm the Cat in the Hat
And I think that you need
To come take a look
At this thing called a seed!"

The event is timed to kick off National Agriculture Week, March 18-24.

EVENT GROWS EVERY YEAR

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson reads to kindergarten students in 2006.

Volunteer readers will be joining enthusiasts like Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, who helped launch the tradition. "Children today are several generations removed from the farm," said Commissioner Bronson in 2005. "We need to use events like Agriculture Literacy Day to help teach children that their food and fiber doesn't come from the supermarket."

The number of Florida agriculture industry partners who read last year grew 18 percent from 2005 to nearly 1,300. About 40 percent of 2006 readers were FFA students; 23 percent were University of Florida/IFAS Extension and 4-H agents, master gardeners and students; 13 percent were Florida Farm Bureau and county Farm Bureau members; and 4 percent were Florida Cattlemen and Cattlewomen. The rest were educators or volunteers without an industry affiliation.

They read to more than 75,000 Florida school children last March 16, up from 41,000 students in 2004.

HATS OFF FOR THE CAUSE

Tom Hill, a Florida Farm Bureau field representative for several counties, came up with a creative approach to spreading the word about Ag Literacy Day and encouraging readers to participate. He used personal funds to buy Cat in the Hat hats and distributed them to folks in his district to not only wear while they read to students, but also as a conversation starter to let people know about the program.

"I ordered a dozen hats," Hill said. "I gave one to Suzanne Archer, vocactional director for Orange County Schools, who works with Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs in that county. I asked her to put it out on a bookcase in her office so that when people came into her office, they'd ask her what it's about. The hat gives her an opportunity to tell them about Ag Literacy Day." He also distributed hats to extension agents and others involved with FFA to display prominently to spur questions.

Older students such as those involved in FFA make great readers, says Stacey Redditt, livestock and education manager for the Central Florida Fair. She organized a group last year, and they were a big hit. "The younger kids looked up to the older ones, and the older kids loved it because they got to go to the classroom and play teacher," said Redditt.

Are you up to the challenge? Then listen to me, And I'll show you the way You can sign up to read!

SIGN UP NOW

The easiest way to get involved is to fill out an Ag Literacy Day form available on the Florida Ag in the Classroom's Web site at www.agtag.org. Then just fax it back to the number indicated before March 2. You will receive a book, a lesson related to the book, and a classroom set of Florida Ag in the Classroom bookmarks. Or you can call Florida Ag in the Classroom to have a form sent to you at (352) 846-1390.

The program offers flexibility. Volunteers don't actually have to read the book March 15 if it's not convenient. Florida Ag in the Classroom would, however, appreciate completion of your visit by the end of the semester. And the process won't take too much time. "It usually takes about a half-hour to read the book and answer questions," said Lisa Gaskalla, Florida Ag in the Classroom's executive director. "Readers can give the accompanying lesson or leave it with the teacher to give later. It's up to the reader," she said. The book is appropriate for students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Also available from Ag in the Classroom is a CD version of the book, which can be projected to assemblies or other large groups.

Florida Ag in the Classroom urges those who'd like to participate to set up classroom visits as early as possible because state law requires screening of school visitors. Volunteers who have questions about a particular school district's visitor requirements should contact the schools where they plan to read.

"Oh Say Can You Seed," by Bonnie Worth and Aristides Ruiz, is the featured book for this year's Ag Literacy Day. It's part of the Cat in the Hat Learning Library, a series of children's books that introduces beginning readers to important basic concepts about the natural world. The books provide the critical foundations upon which complex facts and ideas can eventually be built while retaining the spirit of Theodore Geisel's original "Cat in the Hat" series. Other titles include, "I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All About Trees;" "If I Ran the Rain Forest: All About Tropical Rain Forests;" and "Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures."

Florida Ag in the Classroom is able to provide its curriculum and programs through the funding of the Agriculture License Plate. For more information on how to buy or renew your Ag Tag contact your local tag office. Or click here to purchase an Ag Tag online using the Point & Pay E-Payments System.

Pictured at top of page is Jennifer Abbey of Highlands County Soil and Water Conservation District reading to students at Kenilworth School in 2006.