STATE

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom program hosts summer trainings

Wisconsin State Farmer
A dozen teachers across Wisconsin will use mini-grants to help supplement their ag in the classroom efforts.

MADISON –  Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is hosting several trainings for teachers and volunteers. Attendees will learn to incorporate agricultural concepts into their curricula, network with fellow educators and obtain free resources for students and classrooms.

Teachers of all grade levels and subject areas including home school parents and volunteers are encouraged to attend. 

Bus Tour

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom is hosting a Bus Tour in the Arcadia area July 24-25. The cost is $50 and opportunities for credit will be offered.

Tour stops include: Pilgrim’s Pride; Compeer Financial; Buck Country Grain; Arcadia High School Agriculture Department; Ecker's Apple Orchard; Suncrest Gardens Farm; Northern Family Farms, LLP; Superior Fish/Freshwater Family Farm; Harvest Home Farm and AMPI.

This annual tour is perfect for teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, Ag in the Classroom volunteers, UW-Extension and 4-H staff and leaders and others who want to learn about Wisconsin agriculture. The tour is limited to 50 participants. The registration deadline is July 1.

One-day training sessions

Tuesday, June 19 – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., UW Madison Biotechnology Center.

Participants will hear from Tom Zinnen, UW-Extension biotechnology policy and outreach specialist, as he leads a workshop on biotechnology. Tours will be offered on the UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences campus. Stops include Babcock Hall, the Dairy Cattle Center, the Meats Lab and Bucky’s Butchery and the Allen Centennial Gardens. The registration deadline is June 1.
 
Wednesday, June 20 – 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., West Madison Research Station, Madison.

This one-day training will provide an overview of the resources available through Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom, National Ag in the Classroom, American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and our commodity partners. The registration deadline is June 1.
 
Soybean Science Kit Training: Monday, July 16 – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Comfort Suites, Portage.

At this training participants will learn how to organize, manage, promote and use Soybean Science Kits. Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board has sponsored 74 kits for teachers, volunteers and county programs to use. The registration deadline is July 1.
 
For more information any of these training opportunities, contact the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Coordinator at 608.828.5644 or darneson@wfbf.com. To register for any of these events, visit wisagclassroom.org and click on the ‘What’s New’ icon.
 
Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program provides teachers and K-12 students with an understanding of how their food is produced. The program seeks to work within existing curricula to provide basic information on our nation’s largest industry: agriculture.