By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Students across Texas are invited to connect virtually with farmers and ranchers through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program next spring.

The program has been bringing Texas agriculture to classrooms since 2021 and will continue to help kindergarten through fifth grade students better understand agriculture.

“Farm From School gives students a unique opportunity to connect directly with Texas farmers and ranchers through live, virtual visits,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Educational Outreach. “It allows them to see real-time farming activities, ask questions and learn about the diversity of Texas agriculture.”

Farm From School is a live, virtual visit with a farmer or rancher that is streamed in classrooms across the state each month.

The program is open to public, private and homeschool educators in Texas.

“Through Farm From School, students learn from a real farmer without having to leave their classrooms,” Bartels said. “They are able to increase their knowledge of agriculture and how it relates to what they’re learning in the classroom through the real-time tours.”

Each session will cover a different crop or livestock species.

Past sessions have given students a look into Angora goats, dairy and beef cattle, quail, Christmas trees, poinsettias and turfgrass.

Classrooms will connect virtually with the farmers and ranchers once a month from February through May. Student questions are submitted via the Q&A function on the virtual platform during the visits.

“It is important students learn about food, fiber, fuel and other items they use daily,” Bartels said. “This program helps students gain an understanding of where these items come from while growing in their knowledge about Texas agriculture.”

TFB will provide recommended TEKS-aligned lessons, activity books and other companion resource materials for the virtual visits.

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to promote the program to local teachers, Bartels noted.

Teachers can sign up on TFB’s Agriculture in the Classroom webpage at texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.

Sign up closes Jan. 10, 2025, for the spring semester.

Additional details about the program, including dates and crops featured, will be added online as they become available.

For more information, contact Bartels at edoutreach@txfb.org or call 254-751-2569.