CCFB News» July 2024

During the 2023-2024 school year, Cook County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom (AITC) program gave 1,261 presentations to 28,629 students, the highest number of presentations and second-highest number of students, since the program began in 1987. All presentations were done in-person; no presentations were given virtually, although that option was available.

CCFB’s AITC program has seven presenters: Barbara Bhojraj, Jim Bloomstrand, Mike Galassini, Wayne Kolweier, Sarah Koukol, Kathy Lesser, and Betsy Yager. The presenters taught students about agriculture in grades K-12 using a variety of presentations, including “Intro to Illinois Agriculture,” “There’s Ag on MyPlate!,” “What’s the Dirt on Illinois’ Soil?,” “Specialty Crops through the Seasons,” “Keeping Warm with Agriculture,” “Taco Adventure,” and programs about ag careers.

Feedback from teachers about this year’s program focused on how much the students enjoyed the hands-on experience of having a presenter visiting their classrooms to teach about agriculture.

“The students are always amazed at how much agriculture impacts each part of their lives,” one fourth grade teacher wrote in their evaluation of the program. “This is something they really haven't thought of before.”

Other teachers mentioned how the presentations taught their students about ag careers and the food supply chain.

“It helps them make real connections between the jobs of farmers in rural parts of our state, and the products found in their local, urban markets,” one teacher wrote. “Additionally, they may be inspired to think about a career linked to agriculture in their future.”

Teachers also appreciated how the program connected to their curriculum and taught students where their food comes from: “As suburban students, they need to be exposed to a variety of ways agriculture affects them. All their food doesn't just magically appear in Jewel!”

For more information about CCFB’s AITC program, visit www.cookcfb.org or email [email protected].