AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Lori Bongert, Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom Coordinator. a fourth- Bongert has local farmers visit her classroom and help with grade teacher at commodity presentations on corn, soybeans and honey. She Rio Elementary has hosted the Wisconsin Spudmobile, Alice in Dairyland and School in Columbia Master Gardeners to enhance her lessons and units. She works County, is this with agricultural businesses to furnish sweet corn, cranberries year's recipient of and soybeans for her students to use. She previously received Wisconsin Farm a grant to construct a micro-garden wagon which the entire Bureau's Ag in district uses to learn about growing plants. the Classroom Bongert earned her bachelor's degree in education from program's UW-Platteville and her master's degree from National Louis Outstanding University. Growing up on a hog farm near Poynette, she shares Teacher Award. her love of agriculture and her experience as Fairest of the Fair Each year the in 2002 to develop her students' understanding of agriculture Wisconsin Farm and where their food comes from. She taught first-grade in Bureau Foundation her first year at Rio but has taught fourth grade for the past recognizes a 11 years. teacher for his Bongert will be Wisconsin's nominee for the National or her efforts in Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award and will receive educating students on the importance of agriculture. Teachers of a $500 sponsorship to attend the 2021 National Ag in the all grade levels and subject areas, with the exclusion of certified Classroom Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, or to use for agricultural education instructors, are eligible to apply. educational resources. "Lori has been working closely with Columbia County's Ag For more information about Ag in the Classroom or the in the Classroom Program for many years with the essay contest Outstanding Teacher Award, contact Darlene Arneson at and using our materials," said Darlene Arneson, Wisconsin 608.828.5644.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is encouraging students in Pre-K through 12th grade to participate in a sticker designing activity to celebrate National Ag Day. National Ag Day will be celebrated nationwide on March 23, 2021. Due to anticipated COVID-19 restrictions, many celebrations and activities are being planned virtually.

The theme for Ag Day 2021 is 'Food brings everyone to the table.' Students are asked to draw a picture related to this theme to be used on a sticker sheet. The drawings can portray different kinds of foods the student likes; what farmers, processors, and others do to bring food from the 'farm to table;' or fun facts about food.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom has developed a page that is designed so the images can be printed on a half-page sticker sheet. Students and teachers may consider using the stickers in their local community. Some ideas include attaching stickers to carry-out bags from local restaurants, pizza boxes, grocery store bags and take-home packets for students.

This year's activity will not be judged, but those who share a submission will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2021. There are three grade level groups: Pre-K through third grade, fourth through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade. Through a random drawing, 10 entries from each age category will receive a $10 Culver's gift card. All entries will receive Ag in the Classroom resources.

To learn more or to download resources and supplemental lessons, visit wisagclassroom.org/events-activities/nationalag-day-2.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program has awarded five teacher mini-grants to be used for agricultural literacy lessons and activities. The $100 grants, funded by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, provide opportunities for teachers to obtain funding that may not be available through their local school budgets.

The following teachers were awarded grants:

Kirsten Konder - Luck Public Schools, Luck Students in middle school agriculture classes will research one area of Wisconsin agriculture and become well versed in the commodity. They will make a tri-fold display and give presentations to their class, and later, to fourth-grade students during their agriculture units. The displays also will be used during the Luck Ag on the Lawn event in May. The grant will help purchase display boards for each student.

Stephanie DeVries - Cambria-Friesland Schools, Cambria The grant will be used towards a hydroponic tower garden for middle-high school agriculture classes. The mobile resource can be moved from classroom to classroom in their K-12 building. The garden can help students learn about plant growth, pollination, food environment and hydroponics. The grant will be used to help purchase the structure, mineral blend, rock wool cubes, pots and seeds.

Cheri Oglesby - St. Rose of Lima, Cuba City This pre-K project will allow the students to make a garden in a bucket. Each child will choose the food seeds they would like to plant as they learn about how seeds germinate, grow and produce food. They will learn about soil and compost. This project can be done at school or home. The grant will help purchase the garden tools, watering cans, buckets, potting soil and seeds.

Kirstin Thompson - Greenfield Elementary, Baldwin This timely interdisciplinary project will emphasize a balanced literacy approach to teaching students to be self-sufficient during a pandemic and oral history and rural life skill educational opportunities. The grant will be used to purchase agricultural-based, informational texts that students can use to do their research and give them background information. They will follow-up with interviews of community members.

Amy Gerhardt - School District of Neillsville, Neillsville The Neillsville FFA will partner with elementary classrooms for an 'Adopt-an-Animal' project. They will have monthly virtual interactions with the elementary classes to help them learn about animals, what they eat, how they are cared for and other topics. The high school students will be learning how to share information using technology, improving communication and speaking skills and creating educational programming while staying within COVID-19 parameters. The grant will be used to purchase a camera tripod, carrying bag, cable and camera.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program also has matching grants available to groups and organizations that conduct agricultural literacy projects. Applications are due by March 1, 2021, and can be downloaded at wisagclassroom.org or by contacting Darlene Arneson at 608.828.5644 or darneson@wfbf.com.

The Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Program is accepting project equal to the amount of the Ag in the Classroom grant. applications for matching grants, up to $500, that will The application deadline is March 1, 2021. be awarded to groups conducting activities that promote Interested groups or schools can get an application on the agricultural literacy in K-12 schools. Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom website at wisagclassroom.

Projects that use funds toward an ongoing, sustainable org/grants-awards/grants/matching-grants or can contact the education effort will receive preference over a one-time Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Darlene Arneson program. Applicants must have a matching donor for their at darneson@wfbf.com or 608.828.5644.

to the Following WFB Foundation Donors: (Donations were made between Sept. 28 and Dec. 2, 2020)

• David Henselin • Tim James • Thomas and Katie Roth • Kathleen Hunter in memory of Harold and Vivian

Hunter • Edith Lauscher in memory of Paul Lauscher • Racine County Farm Bureau in memory of Beulah

Skewes

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.