By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Five workshops are open to Texas educators this summer. Each workshop will help teachers connect agriculture through science and hands-on activities.

The Summer Ag Academies, hosted by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), offer teachers practical experience in agriculture-related concepts, and they can take home free resources to use in their classrooms.

“Summer Ag Academies take place in various locations across the state each year. These are one or two-day opportunities that allow teachers an opportunity to learn about various agricultural topics and how to incorporate agriculture into the classroom without having to necessarily travel too far,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Educational Outreach.

The workshops are designed to give teachers the opportunity to experience agriculture and how it relates to what they are teaching in the classroom.

These learning opportunities are open to active K-12 Texas teachers and pre-service teachers who are currently enrolled in a college or university education program.

TFB will also host a Summer Ag Academy specifically for homeschool educators.

The details for each of the Summer Ag Academies are below:

Wichita Falls – July 11
Focus: Dairy
Eligibility: K-12 Texas teachers teaching in

  • a public school
  • accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution
  • pre-service teachers enrolled in an education program at a college or university in Texas

Bryan – July 18
Focus: Animal genetics
Eligibility: 6-12th-grade Texas teachers teaching in

  • a public school
  • accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution
  • pre-service teachers enrolled in an education program at a college or university in Texas

Dallas – July 20
Focus: Urban agriculture, water research, turf grass research and hydroponics
Eligibility: K-12 Texas teachers teaching in

  • a public school
  • accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution
  • pre-service teachers enrolled in an education program at a college or university in Texas

Sinton – July 27
Focus: Harvesting/Planting
Eligibility: K-12 Texas teachers teaching in

  • a public school
  • accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution
  • pre-service teachers enrolled in an education program at a college or university in Texas

Waco – Aug. 11-12
Focus: How to incorporate agriculture in homeschool education
Eligibility: Homeschool educators only

Registration closes two weeks prior to each event.

There is no cost to attend the academies, but each event is limited to 40 participants.

Site visits will also be incorporated into each Summer Ag Academy to help teachers build an understanding of Texas agriculture.

“Site visits are a wonderful opportunity for teachers to see agriculture in action,” Bartels said. These visits allow teachers to gain a unique experience that they can take back to their classrooms to share with their students and relate to what they are teaching.”

TFB has hosted professional development events for over 30 years to help Texas teachers make the connection with agriculture, providing them innovative techniques to incorporate the subject in their curriculum.

A range of topics are covered at this year’s Summer Ag Academies, but technology in agriculture is the focus.

The curriculum provided by TFB is aligned with Texas teaching standards to help teachers better incorporate the material in the classroom.

Teachers also receive continuing education credits in addition to the resource material.

Additional information and registration details for the Summer Ag Academies can be found at texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.

For more information, contact TFB’s Educational Outreach team at edoutreach@txfb.org or call 254-751-2569.