FORWARD FOUNDATION Bushels for Books: An investment in our future By Amanda Rosholt Director of Fundraising and Public Relations for the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation of or experience with agriculture. nvesting in the next generation now can reap long-term “Our school library currently does not have many agriculture benefits. It is imperative for farmers and ranchers to make an investment in raising the next generation of informed producers related books, so this program will have a large impact on our students,” Schmidt said. “The books will help teach our students and consumers. The Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, in partnership with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young where their food comes from and how it reaches their tables.” Even in a rural setting, many students do not have a firm Farmers and Ranchers, is putting that mission to action with grasp of how agriculture works. Blaise the Bushels for Books Program. Glory, from Hulbert Public Schools, During the OKFB annual meeting said the books will benefit students in November, five Oklahoma schools and teachers alike. were awarded bushel baskets of “These resources will present true accurate agriculture books for their knowledge about agriculture and will classrooms and school libraries. enhance concepts in our curriculum Neddy Sandels from Goodwell with applications in STEM activities, Elementary in the Oklahoma writing projects and even art,” Glory panhandle said agriculture is the said. area’s income-based lifeline. The The final recipient, Shawna Wright, books will be used to enrich science — Christy Schmidt from East Side Elementary in and integrated curriculum for pre-K Tulsa Public Schools Chandler, said the books will help through fourth-grade students. teach many units in their classes. “We represent a rural school in the biggest agricultural area “The books will be so beneficial in helping students learn of the state,” Sandels said. “We have a tremendous opportunity more about where their food comes from and the processes that to share the books in traditional classrooms and outdoor take place to provide it,” Wright said. classrooms as well.” The Bushels for Books program allows farmers to donate Cindy Storer, from Buffalo Public Schools, said although a few bushels from their harvest each year, or make cash the panhandle's economy is still tied to agriculture, it has few contributions, to purchase bushel baskets full of accurate students being raised on family farms. agriculture books to be placed in Oklahoma schools. Teachers “The agricultural books will help the teachers and faculty of and librarians are given the opportunity to apply for books our school continue re-enforcing the traditions of both the past in October. This year’s recipients also received a specialty and the future,” Storer said. Christy Schmidt, from Springdale Elementary School in Tulsa, “Cropopoly” game courtesy of Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom and the OKFB Women’s Leadership Team. will use the books to teach students who have little knowledge
The books will teach our students where their food comes from and how it reaches their tables.
Donors, thank you for a great year! • Provided nutritious, high-protein beef and pork sticks for chronically hungry children in 596 schools, across all 77 counties through the Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs Programs, valued at more than $500,000. • Awarded five Oklahoma schools with bushel baskets of accurate agriculture books through the Bushels for Books Program.
20 — Oklahoma Country
• Educated over 17,000 students of all ages on the importance of production agriculture and its impact on every day life with the Grown for You Commodity Trailer. • Introduced consumers across the state to Oklahoma farming and ranching families through the Producer Perspective series. • Sponsored an Oklahoma Honor Flight for two outstanding Oklahoma WWII veterans who returned home and devoted their lives to agriculture.