By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Equipping agricultural science teachers with knowledge and experience to connect agriculture to the classroom earned Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) national recognition from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

TFB received the New Horizon Award, which recognizes innovative and new state programming, for its Early Ag Teacher Professional Development (EATPD).

AFBF announced the recognition during the organization’s annual convention in Anaheim, California.

EATPD is a collaborative effort between TFB’s education and youth outreach teams to support early-career agricultural science teachers with one to five years of classroom experience by helping them integrate agriculture into all facets of their ag science course.

“Agricultural science teachers are shaping how the next generation understands where their food, fiber and fuel comes from,” said Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization Division. “The Early Ag Teacher Professional Development equips early-career educators with practical tools and real-world knowledge they can immediately apply in their classrooms.”

The free two-day workshop provides hands-on classroom and laboratory instruction on key areas in agriscience, including supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) and FFA activities.

The program was developed in response to a growing need with agricultural education. While TFB has long hosted short workshops at larger ag science teacher and career and technical education conferences, time constraints limited opportunities for in-depth training. EATPD allows educators to fully engage with activities and expand their knowledge of production agriculture.

The workshop, which is hosted in June, includes presentations from agricultural experts who specialize in education.

Past attendees have participated in a meat lab demonstration and visited a local ranch where they learned about electronic identification tags, ultrasounds and cattle management. The group also learned about the threat that New World screwworm poses to livestock and have visited with a rural veterinarian about handling livestock for vaccinations.

“Today, most consumers are four to five generations removed from the farm, resulting in a lack of understanding, and at times, skepticism about how food is grown,” Weems said. “By investing in ag teachers and strengthening their understanding of agriculture, we’re helping ensure students receive accurate, science-based information to develop a clearer picture of how agriculture supports their daily lives.”

Participants also heard from a panel of agricultural science teachers at various stages of their careers, who shared advice on lesson planning, classroom management and navigating the challenges of teaching.

Teachers took home classroom materials, including information on TFB contests, student leadership programs and resources designed specifically for agricultural science teachers.

For more information on EATPD, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.

For more information on AFBF Convention activities, visit annualconvention.fb.org.

TFB’s early ag teacher event recognized for AFBF New Horizon Award Equipping ag science teachers with knowledge and experience earned Texas Farm Bureau national recognition from the American Farm Bureau Federation.