By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Teachers who incorporate agriculture into their classrooms to help students understand more about food, fiber and fuel can earn recognition from Texas Farm Bureau (TFB).

Each year, the state’s largest farm and ranch organization awards one teacher the Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher Award.

This award is presented to the teacher for their creative efforts to teach students about the importance of agriculture.

“Texas Farm Bureau is proud to spotlight educators who make agriculture real and relevant for their students every day,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Educational Outreach. “When teachers bring agriculture into the classroom, they’re planting seeds of knowledge that can grow for a lifetime.”

A county Farm Bureau must nominate the teacher.

Certified teachers who actively teach about agriculture in PK-12 grade classrooms are eligible for the award. They can teach any subject or content area, with the exception of vocational agriculture.

Learning activities may include, but are not limited to, an understanding of agriculture’s impact on personal lives, the environment, national security and the economy. Innovative and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged.

“Recognizing outstanding teachers helps inspire even more classrooms to explore how agriculture shapes our world,” Bartels said.

Applications are due Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. and must be submitted via email to edoutreach@txfb.org.

Previous winners of the award are not eligible.

Teachers who have been previously nominated but weren’t selected may be nominated again.

Interested teachers who qualify can contact their county Farm Bureau office to learn more about being nominated.

All nominations will be evaluated by a panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education and the Ag in the Classroom initiative.

The winning teacher will receive a $1,500 cash award, as well as an expense-paid trip to attend the 2025 TFB Annual Meeting in Arlington Dec. 5-7 and the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference next summer.

Attendance at the TFB Annual Meeting is mandatory to receive the award.

The winning Texas teacher will also receive a nomination for the National Ag in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture award.

The nominating county Farm Bureau will receive a $400 cash award and will be recognized at the TFB Annual Meeting.

Download the application here.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information about Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher Award. Contact the Educational Outreach team at edoutreach@txfb.org or 254-751-2258 with questions.