Ag in the Classroom summer conference encourages learning
This year’s Ag in the Classroom state summer conference theme, “Gate to Plate to STEMulate,” provided teachers across Oklahoma with science, technology, engineering and math activities to stimulate learning about agriculture in their classrooms.
Conference highlights included keynote speaker Josh Hargis, program director of AgVocates for Exceptional Individuals, and 36 workshops presented by teachers and industry experts from across the state.
There also was an appearance by YouTube sensation The Peterson Farm Brothers, whose YouTube videos have received more than 41 million views. The brothers are spreading the word about agriculture through creative and innovative methods.
The purpose of Ag in the Classroom is to help Oklahoma students become acquainted with the state’s food and fiber industry through special curriculum.
“Ag in the Classroom wants to make sure that teachers end their summer on an exciting note,” state coordinator Audrey Harmon said.
“It is the goal of Ag in the Classroom to always make sure teachers feel special and appreciated. This day is a great opportunity to highlight amazing teachers from across the state and let them share what they are doing to engage students in their classrooms,” Harmon said.
Learning with the best
Harmon said the conference brought in some of the best teachers in the state to present workshops, including 2016 Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Amber Bales, from Morrison, and 2016 National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture award winner Lisa Storm, of Kingfisher.
“I learned a lot about myself,” Bales said, “including the passion I had for agriculture, more ways to integrate agriculture and technology and was given new opportunities to share my agricultural experiences.”
Educators not only learn more about agriculture, but they learn creative new ways to incorporate agriculture into their everyday curriculum.
This year’s conference participants received financial literacy cards. The cards, made possible by a donation from Oklahoma AgCredit and CoBank, feature agriculture-related financial literacy questions and math problems. The cards offer a unique method for educators to teach financial literacy and agriculture simultaneously.
Ag advocate Kitty Beavers was recognized for her efforts in promoting Ag in the Classroom, and recently retired state coordinator Dana Bessinger was recognized for her years of dedication to the program.
The conference took place in July at the Moore-Norman Technology Center, with 300 Oklahoma teachers in attendance.
To learn more
For information about Ag in the Classroom, go to www.agclassroom.org/ok. Betty Thompson is deputy commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry