By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Texas teachers learned more about agriculture and how they can incorporate agriculture into their classrooms at this year’s second Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Summer Ag Institute in Rosenberg.

This was the first time to host the educational workshop in Rosenberg.

During the four-day professional development event, teachers toured farms, ranches and agribusinesses in the Gulf Coast. Educators heard from industry professionals, educational experts and participated in hands-on activities they can replicate in their classrooms.

“Summer Ag Institute provides an interactive, hands-on learning experience for educators to gain a better understanding of agriculture and how to incorporate it into their teaching,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Education and Outreach. “This was the first year expanding the program to the Gulf Coast, and teachers were able to learn about agriculture in the region, as well as ways to integrate agriculture into their curriculum.”

Farm, ranch tours
Educators toured the United Ag Co-op in Danevang, where they saw a cotton gin and learned about the cotton seed bagging process.

At United Ag in El Campo, the educators viewed a grain elevator and the United Ag General Store.

The Coastal Bend is known for aquaculture production. The teachers learned how fish are raised and harvested at Saha Fish Farm, while a stop at Horizon Turf in Wharton highlighted turfgrass production.

At J.D. Hudgins in Hungerford, the group toured the largest selection of commercial registered beef-type Brahman bulls for sale.

To round out the tours, the group visited Tradewind Ag Service and Sugair Inc. and learned about aerial application in agriculture.

Hands-on workshops, activities
During the Summer Ag Institute, industry experts and fellow teachers facilitated activities and lessons the educators can take back to their classrooms.

The group explored the National Ag in the Classroom Curriculum Matrix with Lynn Wallin, education specialist at the National Center for Agricultural Literacy.

Educators heard from Julie Hodges, director of Education at the National Ranching Heritage Center, about resources available to use alongside Hank the Cowdog books.

Michelle Coker, a high school teacher at Central Heights ISD, gave a group lesson over DNA extraction where participants evaluated genotypes and phenotypes of cattle.

Other sessions included information from a forester and a visit with a horticultural professor, as well as learning how to use the resources available through TFB.

Teacher experiences
Summer Ag Institute provided hands-on experiences the teachers not only enjoyed, but plan to bring back to their classrooms.

“We were given resources by various organizations that we can use in our classroom whether it be from science, social studies, literature,” Yolanda Garza, an ancillary science teacher at Herrera Elementary School in Houston, said. “Everything’s woven into bringing it back to the classroom, and we’re able to hit lots of TEKS and things students need to learn.”

Garza recognized that agriculture starts on farms and ranches, but it can be emphasized and incorporated into the classroom. Lessons learned at Summer Ag Institute will help students understand more about food, fiber and how agriculture is a part of items they use every day.

“We had a day of going out in the fields, going out to the farms and learning things that I’ve never even thought about,” Garza said. “I know my students hadn’t thought about where the turf comes from, where the fish come from, farming, all those things. That’s something that I plan to pass on to my students to and help them understand where our food comes from.”

Garza has been working to improve a space in the school courtyard that was once used to teach about animals and plants.

“I have been working on getting the kids out there, and we’ve been fixing it up,” she said. “I’ve been reaching out and learning more about planting and what kind of animals and pollinators would be good to have. I wanted to come to Summer Ag Institute so that I could take lessons back to my school and turn the area into something the kids and teachers can use to learn.”

About the event
The event took place July 15-18 in Rosenberg.

The Summer Ag Institute in Waco was held June 9-12.

For more information on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom efforts, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.