By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Texas teachers are invited to learn more about agriculture and how to incorporate agricultural concepts in their classroom through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Summer Ag Institutes (SAI).

“SAI provides teachers from across the state an immersive, hands-on learning experience and helps them become familiar with modern agriculture and how it can be incorporated into the classroom,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Educational Outreach.

This year, TFB is expanding the program to include two locations—Waco and Lubbock.

Throughout the week for each event, agricultural experts and educational professionals will demonstrate agricultural concepts for teachers from across the Lone Star State.

“Teachers will also see agriculture in action through different site visits to farms, ranches and agricultural businesses,” Bartels said. “They will receive resources and leave with ideas for lessons and activities that incorporate agriculture into their classrooms.”

Teachers will get hands-on experiences while building relationships with other teachers who are passionate about incorporating agriculture into their lessons and curriculum.

Additional fun, interactive demonstrations will help connect agriculture to classroom curriculum.

“Both the Waco and Lubbock SAIs will be full of unique learning opportunities that look different than most professional development opportunities that teachers might have attended in the past,” she said. “Our hope is that teachers are encouraged to attend by their passion or interest in including agriculture into their classrooms—whether they are new to it or have been including agriculture for many years.”

Teachers will take home activity ideas, lesson plans and numerous resources and experiences. They also receive 36 hours of continuing professional education credits as authorized by the Texas Education Agency.

“The experiences that SAI provides sets teachers up to successfully incorporate agricultural topics to what they already teach and help their students recognize that agriculture is essential,” Bartels said.

SAI is open to any certified, active K-12 teachers of any subject area who teach in a public school or K-12 teachers teaching in an accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution, as well as Education Service Center or other district educators.

The Waco SAI is set for June 10-13 in at the TFB Conference and Training Center.

The Lubbock SAI will be held July 16-19 at the FiberMax Center for Discovery.

The cost is $375 per person, which includes lodging and most meals, but sponsorships from the local county Farm Bureau are often available.

Teachers will be notified of their sponsorship status after registration is complete.

Registration closes May 17 and is limited to 40 teachers for each event.

For more information and to register, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc or contact TFB’s Educational Outreach team at 254.751.2569 or edoutreach@txfb.org.

Additional information on other educational opportunities can also be found at texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.