Wisconsin Represented at National Convention

Wisconsin educators went ‘Beyond the Beaches’ at the 2023 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, June 25-29, in Orlando, Florida. More than 500 educators from across the country participated in the four-day conference which featured educational experiences at Florida farms and agribusinesses, dozens of hands-on workshops led by educators and volunteers and recognition of top educators and volunteers.

Wisconsin attendees were actively involved in this year’s conference with multiple award winners and workshop presenters. Jenn Scott, Food + Farm Exploration Center, and Chellen Wright, Marshfield School District, each led engaging workshops. Kim Pokorny from SAGES Elementary received a CHS Conference Scholarship, and Jessica Rettler from Tri-County Elementary was recognized as a National Excellence in Educating About Agriculture award-winner.

If you are interested in attending next year’s conference, ‘Agriculture Elevated’ in Salt Lake City, Utah, workshop proposals are now being accepted. Follow the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom social pages for award and scholarship opportunities or visit wisagclassroom.org.

Essay Contest and Book of the Year Announced

Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom is excited to again sponsor the 2024 fourth- and fifth-grade Essay Contest. This year’s theme draws from Wisconsin’s sweetest commodities … fruit!

Strawberries, apples, cherries and of course, cranberries, are some of Wisconsin’s top fruit commodities. Sink your teeth into this year’s essay topic, and get the “Scoop on Wisconsin Fruit” at bit.ly/ wiagessaycontest.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is excited to support the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year, I Love Strawberries by Shannon Anderson. In this accurate ag book, Jolie loves strawberries! Join Jolie as she learns what it takes to grow her own strawberries – persistence, responsibility and a little support from her friends and family take Jolie on a sweet journey to her very own strawberry patch.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is excited to offer educator workshops this school year to help formal and informal educators learn more about this year’s essay topic. Workshops are supported by the CHS Next Generation Agriculture Leader grant and the National Ag in the Classroom Fire-Up grant. Learn more at wisagclassroom.org.