By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Students across the Lone Star State virtually visited farms and ranches from their classrooms and homes through Texas Farm Bureau’s spring Farm From School program.

More than 1,700 teachers and 35,000 students from public, private and homeschool classrooms connected with farmers and ranchers each month from February through May.

The monthly sessions allowed students to get to know farmers and ranchers, learn about various operations across the state and ask questions along the way.

“The spring semester gave students a unique perspective on agriculture,” Carson Read, TFB Educational Outreach coordinator, said. “For the first time in the program, we highlighted how agricultural byproducts are utilized by explaining how leather is used to make baseball gloves.”

In addition to learning about how baseball gloves are made, the students also learned about dairy farms, forestry and honey production this semester.

“Agriculture is incorporated into each part of our daily lives—from the food we eat to the fuel that is used to drive our cars,” she said. “Teaching students the role agriculture plays in providing our basic needs allows them to recognize not only the impact it has on the world around us but that it takes concepts from all subject areas they are learning in school to get a finished product.”

Read noted positive feedback has been received about the program. Teachers said Farm From School helps their students grow a deeper understanding of agricultural careers and production.

TFB also provides corresponding materials and resources that teachers can use to help relate the visits to concepts they’re teaching in the classroom.

The popular program will be back again this fall, and teachers can begin registering online. Sign up closes Aug. 16.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information and the latest announcements on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom activities.