By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist
Educators from across Texas traded textbooks for tractors and learned more about agriculture and how they can incorporate it into their classrooms at this year’s Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Summer Ag Institute (SAI) in Waco.
During the four-day professional development event, teachers toured farms and agribusinesses in Central Texas. They heard from industry professionals, educational experts and participated in hands-on activities to replicate in their classrooms.
“Summer Ag Institute connects educators directly with Texas agriculture through immersive, hands-on experiences,” Carson Read, TFB education coordinator, said. “The tours and conversations with industry professionals provide teachers with practical knowledge and classroom-ready ideas that help students make connections to agriculture.”
Farm, agribusiness tours
Tours included a visit to Birome Cotton Gin, where teachers saw how the crop is received, cleaned and processed before entering the textile supply chain.
At Shronk Farms, teachers heard from Hill County farmer Rodney Schronk about growing corn and the farm equipment and technology used in modern agriculture.
The group visited TrueHarvest Farms in Belton, a hydroponic lettuce and leafy greens grower. The teachers toured the facility and followed the process from seedling to harvest. Educators learned about hydroponic food production systems and how lettuce is grown, harvested, packaged and shipped through an automated process.
They also visited Walker Honey Farm and learned about the honey extraction process. The visit left teachers buzzing with excitement about beekeeping and large-scale honey production.
“Several tours stood out. I love learning about hydroponics because I’m wanting to get that going in my classroom, so now I’m researching more on how I can get one set up for my class,” Patricia Whiddon, a second-grade teacher in Rockport, said. “I loved Walker Honey Farm because I’m trying to figure out how to get an observation beehive for school. And Shronk Farms showed us the technology they use on tractors. I didn’t even realize you could do that. It was so interesting.”
Hands-on workshops, activities
During the Summer Ag Institute, industry experts and fellow teachers facilitated hands-on activities and lessons educators can replicate in their classrooms.
Lynn Wallin, educational specialist with the National Center for Agricultural Literacy, gave the group a look into the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix and several lessons included.
Teachers received a lesson on plant propagation in the classroom from the Junior Master Gardeners through AgriLife Extension. They participated in a variety of activities to learn more about propagation and seed germination that can be used in their classrooms.
Educators also heard from the National Ranching Heritage Center about classroom resources available to use alongside Hank the Cowdog Ranch Life Learning books.
Other sessions included information from TFB Education staff, checkoff programs, a dairy farmer and a forester.
“I loved learning about wheat and corn. I know already how I will be incorporating them into lessons,” she said. “I look forward to showing students that whole process of what it takes to grow their food. I plan to use an Ag in the Classroom lesson from Texas Farm Bureau along with the information learned here.”
Teacher experiences
Throughout the four-day program, the teachers also learned from each other’s experiences and what they are doing in their own classrooms.
“I’ve loved connecting with the other teachers because we’re getting ideas from each other,” Whiddon said.
She said she already plans to collaborate with another teacher she met during the event to implement new agricultural activities and lessons.
Helping students understand where their food comes from remains one of her biggest goals.
“Most of our students are a few generations removed from their families farming, and most of their families don’t cook,” Whiddon said. “They see vegetables out of a can. They don’t know where things come from if they even eat vegetables. It’s usually like fast food. They have no clue what they’re eating, where anything comes from.”
About the event
The event took place June 8-11 in Waco. More than 25 K-12 educators were in attendance.
Another Summer Ag Institute will be held in Irving July 14-17.
For more information on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom efforts, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.
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