Agriculture is a mystery for some students. Its deep roots in Texas lie just beyond their classroom’s reach. But Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) educational outreach programs changes that, helping students and communities reconnect with agriculture.
In 2019, TFB’s Organization division, which handles education and outreach, communicated with teachers, students and members of the public through a variety of classroom activities, community events and workshops.
TFB leaders also helped with those efforts.
“Our educational outreach efforts show that agriculture has a place in all classrooms with a variety of teaching styles,” Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization, said. “Ag in the Classroom is a multifaceted program that brings the world of agriculture to young minds and helps students and teachers learn more about how their food is grown, careers in agriculture and the farm and ranch families of Texas.”
Through the Summer Agriculture Institute, regional trainings and teacher workshops, 149 teachers learned ways to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum and took home lesson plans. Those teachers have a potential direct impact to about 10,000 students.
The school visit program reached more than 51,000 students across the state. Through the educational program, urban and rural students alike become farmers as they plant a seed in a cup, learn about careers in agriculture, study regions of Texas, read and write a postcard and have the chance to meet local farmers. The school visit program targets students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
TFB staff also hosted a workshop at the Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas conference to share details on scholarships, agricultural advocacy and more.
Over the summer, 287 high school juniors and seniors from 115 counties attended the 56th annual Youth Leadership Conference where they learned about free enterprise, constitutional government, setting goals and leadership.
TFB staff also displayed a booth at the Texas FFA State Convention, reaching 4,000 members throughout the week long event.
More than 740,000 adults and children were reached through the Planet Agriculture exhibit, which is an interactive, educational exhibit on display at fairs and livestock shows across the state.
County Farm Bureau leaders and TFB Field Operations staff participated in farmers markets, fairs and other venues and hosted 88 Ag Days for elementary students throughout the year. TFB’s mobile learning barns, which are trailers that feature up to seven different crops and livestock, were used to help initiate conversations and teach over 51,000 school children and nearly 141,000 adults and children last year.
TFB Communications staff also held engagement training for Texas 4-H members and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents, and Texas FFA members visited the TFB state headquarters for help with contests and leadership training.
“With the help of our volunteer leaders and dedicated program teachers, we get to share the stories of Texas farmers and ranchers with students, teachers, school administration and community leaders,” Weems said. “We build relationships across the state, cultivating a better understanding of agriculture. In 2019, we were successful in promoting Texas agriculture and increasing agricultural literacy, and we hope to reach even more individuals this year.”
For more information about the educational programs, visit www.texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.