AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Find Your 'Field of Dreams' at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference

The 2021 National Ag in the Classroom Conference will be held on June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Iowa Event Center/Hilton Des Moines Downtown.

It will be offered as a hybrid conference, meaning it will be held in person for those who can travel and virtual for those who can't.

Online registration went live on March 1, and the early registration deadline will be extended to June 1 to allow for flexibility as people determine if they can travel and if they feel comfortable traveling.

The early rate for in-person registration is $435. The virtual registration rate is $50. Conference organizers want to assure everyone that social distancing measures, including mask-wearing, will be implemented to keep everyone safe at the conference.

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference brings together hundreds of teachers, volunteers, informal educators and industry experts from across the country to share ideas, network and celebrate agricultural literacy.

The conference moves to a different region every year and is only in the Midwest every four years. This will be the first time that it has been hosted in Iowa. With the conference so close, we encourage as many of our Wisconsin teachers and volunteers to attend as possible.

On county Ag in the Classroom reports, many counties do not spend the full amount budgeted for Ag in the Classroom. This opportunity could help a county use the full budget along with some additional dollars from the county Farm Bureau.

For more information, please view the video at youtu.be/ yFrH6zJP58M.

Ag in the Classroom Opportunities to Check Out

New Career Resources Watch for new career resources and an updated An Agricultural Career for You Student Book and Educator Guide.

Wisconsin State Fair Culinary Contest Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is sponsoring the ’Wisconsin Dreamin … legend-dairy Wisconnie-strone Soup’ culinary contest at the Wisconsin State Fair. This open class competition will have exhibitors mixing up a batch of delicious soup using primarily Wisconsin products.

The entry deadline is June 3, and the contest is held on Aug. 8 in the Grand Champion Hall at the Wisconsin State

Fair. Watch for registration information and details at wistatefair.com/competitions/ culinary.

Summer Ag in the Classroom Training Our usual series of summer trainings have not been planned yet due to uncertainty with COVID-19. We will use the Training Tuesdays on the Ag in the Classroom YouTube channel to conduct trainings along with several live presentations. We plan on

organizing a Back-to-School Kick-Off again in August.

2021 Wisconsin Farm Facts Available

The Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Program has the updated 2021 Wisconsin Farm Facts brochures, bookmarks and other resources available for teachers, students and volunteers to use.

The annual brochure highlights the top 10 commodities, where Wisconsin ranks nationally, features other agricultural and jobs statistics and has an annual feature. This year honey and maple syrup are featured on both the brochure and bookmarks.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom also has a PowerPoint presentation, lesson plans, resources and activities available for classroom use. A collection of videos about honey and maple syrup is on the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom’s YouTube channel. Look for the playlist dedicated to the Wisconsin Farm Facts project or visit bit.ly/WisconsinAITC. Along with the Wisconsin Farm Facts resources, an updated Fun Facts about Wisconsin Agriculture also is available for younger grade levels. Find the resources and links on the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom website atwisagclassroom.org/wisconsin-agfacts. Brochures and bookmarks can be ordered through the online store atwisagclassroom.org/shop. For more information, contact Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Darlene Arneson at darneson@wfbf.com or 608.828.5644.

AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Soybean Science Kit Shows Collaborative Success

For nearly 20 years, the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and Wisconsin Soybean Association have worked together to help educate students, teachers and others about soybeans and the importance to agriculture and our country.

Program Overview

In 2004, the first set of Soybean Science Kits were purchased as a test run to see if the educational kits would be of value to Wisconsin teachers, students and volunteers. Now, more than 70 kits later, the soybean kits continue to help students tie agriculture and science together using some fun hands-on lessons.

The kits were developed by the Indiana Soybean Program as it worked with elementary teacher Fred Henderson. When Fred retired from teaching, he along with his sister and wife, also retired elementary teachers, moved the program from the Indiana Soybean Program to make it into their retirement business.

They assemble the kits, send out supplies and complete hands-on training throughout the country. The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board has sponsored trainings in Wisconsin numerous times at teacher’s conventions, stand-alone trainings and at FFA Farm Forum for agriculture educators.

Kits Available Around the State

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom places the kits with a coordinator who houses the kit, tracks its usage and restocks the kits. The kits are taken care of by the coordinator, but the sponsored kits are to be available for any teacher, volunteer, 4-H or FFA and others interested in using them. The list of kit coordinators can be found at wisagclassroom.org/lessonsresources/classroom-lessons/soybean-science-kits.

“The Iowa-Grant fourth- and fifth-grade students have checked out the Soybean Science Kit to complete some of the experiments to enhance their education on soybeans and relate it to this year’s essay contest. From what I understand, the lip balm experiment was a hit!”

- Lara Hammerly, agriculture educator at Iowa-Grant Schools "The Fond du Lac Agri-Business Council Ag Ambassador Program utilizes the Soybean Kit to share the benefits and uses of soybeans in our lives through the interactive student lessons. Teachers in Fond du Lac County Area schools enjoy the hands-on presentations.”

- Amy Ries, Director of Agricultural Programs & Director of Youth Leadership at Envision Greater Fond du Lac, Inc.

Continued Support

Even after this many years, there are still requests from schools or county programs for additional kits. Executive Director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Robert Karls recently approved a new kit for Washington County Ag in the Classroom as they are getting more requests to use their existing kit.

“This seems to be the time of year when we have teachers consistently wanting the kit. We sometimes have others in the fall, but this seems to be when the kit coordinates with the school curriculum. We are super happy that the kit continues to be a teacher resource, even during these crazy times. We look forward to continuing to educate through hands-on experiences!"

- Melanie Gierach, Washington County Soybean Kit Coordinator

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is extremely grateful for the partnership with our soybean growers and their associations. Through the Soybean Science Kit program and their support to offer in-person trainings on how to use the kit, this has helped us reach teachers of all grade levels.

Book of the Year and Essay Contest

With the selection of this year’s Book of the Year, "Full of Beans: Henry Ford Grows a Car" by Peggy Thomas and illustrated by Ed Fotheringham, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and Wisconsin Soybean Association joined We Energies as sponsors of the 2020-2021 Essay Contest. The topic, 'How have Wisconsin soybean farmers fueled Wisconsin’s economy?' allows students to learn more about the soybean industry, how they are grown, uses of soybeans, sustainability of the crop and how Henry Ford used soybeans in many parts of their plant.

Learn more at wisagclassroom.org/events-activities/essaycontest.

“I used the Soybean Science Kit at our County 4-H Fun Day. I made lip balm and candles with the kids. Parents attended with their children and I remember one mom saying, "I can't believe all these years I didn't know vegetable oil was soybean oil!!!"

THANK YOU

Local Learning: Rock County Celebrates National Ag Day

Despite COVID-19 and pandemic precautions still hampering a second National Ag Day, Rock County Ag in the Classroom coordinator Sheila Everhart made the best of a challenging situation by involving many Rock County residents, students and teachers. Rock County Ag in the Classroom contacted FFA chapters in the county to help offer a free, family-friendly traveling virtual scavenger hunt in eight Rock County communities during synchronized times between March 20 and May 19. The theme is ‘Farmers Grow, Food Brings Everyone to the Table.’ Wisconsin’s top commodities were highlighted using the commodity fact sheets found on the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom’s website at wisagclassroom. org/wisconsin-ag-facts/wisconsincommodity-facts.

Once the FFA chapters committed to the project, the student leaders and advisors brainstormed and determined community locations for scavenger hunts. FFA chapters secured 12 to 24 large community windows to place posters inside the building due to weather conditions. These include banks, schools, libraries, fire departments, restaurants, etc., or other community building clusters within one-quarter to one-half mile walking or driving radius. The posters must be visible from the street. Once community locations were finalized by the business or property owner, student leaders and advisors created clues for each location. Student leaders and advisors delivered and placed the posters in the windows of authorized community locations. Chapter FFA members created a Facebook event page that was launched at noon on the first day of the community scavenger hunt event. The Chapter FFA Facebook page and clues were linked to the Rock County Farm Bureau Facebook page.

Get Your Golf Game Ready Wisconsin Ag Open to Be Held in September

Registrations and sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 24th annual Wisconsin Ag Open. This fundraising event for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at The Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove.

The 18-hole scramble offers a day of golf, socializing and various contests and raffles that help raise funds for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. The Foundation sponsors activities such as the 4-H Key Award, Ag in the Classroom, Wisconsin FFA Discussion Meet and Food for America, Young Farmer and Agriculturist activities and Collegiate Farm Bureaus.

Farm Bureau members are encouraged to consider attending the event. County Farm Bureaus might use the opportunity to recognize membership workers, food stand volunteers, committee chairs, award winners or by a random drawing. It might be a fun opportunity for Young Farmer and Agriculturist members, Ag in the Classroom volunteers, Promotion and Education committee members or collegiate Farm Bureau groups to have fun, golf and support the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, which supports these programs.

If you aren’t a golfer but want to support the event, individual or county Farm Bureaus can be a sponsor, donate door prizes, baskets for the raffles or provide a monetary donation to support the event. Any help in offsetting expenses for the event helps to raise more money for the activities that the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation supports.

Information about the event can be found at wfbf.com/events/ wisconsin-ag-open. All registrations must be completed online. “Attending the Wisconsin Ag Open is a fun way to support our Foundation, along with giving you the opportunity to network and socialize with many people within Farm Bureau and Rural Mutual Insurance.” - Kevin Krentz, WFBF President

“We participate in the Wisconsin Ag Open to donate to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. By giving we get to participate in a fun event and get a day off the farm to enjoy with other aggies and Farm Bureau members. We also have some friendly competition between Kenosha and Racine counties.” - Dave Daniels, WFBF Vice President

“I have so much fun golfing at this event! Between the enjoyment of golfing, everyone is excited to be there. It is a great way to support our educational programs.” - Rosie Lisowe, WFBF Board Member

“The Wisconsin Ag Open is a great opportunity to support the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. We know the importance of promoting agriculture within our state and what better way to do that with a great day on the golf course. Along with a fun afternoon, there are many opportunities to reunite with supporters who you know throughout the state. There are chances to win prizes, great food, along with a lot of fun in a best ball outing. I encourage county Farm Bureaus to support this fundraiser by sponsoring a team from your county.” - Sam Skemp, Dane County Farm Bureau Vice President

Thank You

to the Following WFB Foundation Donors: (Donations were made between Jan. 26 and March 26, 2021) • Carol Bartholomew in memory of Ruth Clark • Dan and Jean Poulson in memory of Rolland Nelson • Dan and Jean Poulson in memory of Tom Lyon • Donna Fae Kruse in memory of Edward Kruse

About the Foundation

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation was established in 1988 to provide support for agricultural education and leadership programs. Through donations and other contributions, the foundation invests time and resources to support the next generation of agriculturists.