By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Six educators from across Texas have been selected to serve as the first cohort of Ag in the Classroom Ambassadors for Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), bringing agricultural literacy and advocacy to classrooms and communities statewide.

These teacher ambassadors will promote TFB’s Ag in the Classroom programs and resources through social media, personal networks and professional groups. Their role is to help grow the program, support fellow educators and serve as mentors and leaders in agricultural literacy.

“Texas Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program continues to grow, and these ambassadors will help take it to the next level,” Carson Read, TFB education coordinator, said. “Their passion and leadership will help inspire fellow educators to connect students with agriculture in meaningful, hands-on ways using our classroom resources.”

In addition to outreach, ambassadors will help facilitate workshops, provide feedback on educational resources and support the development of new materials. Their insight will help enhance and refine the program while also fostering greater agricultural awareness among students, parents and community leaders.

Ambassadors are selected to serve a two-year term and represent a diverse cross-section of Texas educators. Each cohort includes public, private, homeschool and agricultural science teachers to ensure broad reach and representation.

The inaugural Ag in the Classroom Ambassadors are:

  • Emily Williams, third-grade math teacher at Bess Brannen Elementary School
  • Kye Ditmore, kindergarten teacher, Saint Paul’s Episcopal School
  • Michaelle Coker, high school biology, AP biology and AP chemistry teacher, Central Heights High School
  • Mikah Bowden, all-grades educator with the Piney Woods Homeschooling Community Co-Op
  • Crystal Osborn, fourth through eighth grade science and robotics teacher, Lubbock Christian School
  • Kodie Hoover, high school agricultural science teacher, Greenwood High School

“These teachers are influencers in both their communities and professions,” Read said. “Their commitment will empower teachers, strengthen agricultural literacy and ultimately grow more informed future consumers.”

TFB’s Ag in the Classroom program provides educators with TEKS-aligned resources that introduce students to agriculture. The program includes lesson plans, classroom activities, books, digital tools and hands-on learning opportunities that cover topics like food production, natural resources and Texas crops and livestock.

The materials are designed for all grade levels and help teachers integrate agriculture into science, math, reading, social studies and more to cultivate agricultural literacy, Read said.

The Ag in the Classroom program also includes teacher professional development opportunities.

For more information about Ag in the Classroom programs and resources, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.