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>> THE VIRGINIA HORSE BUREAU , SOUTHWEST AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION, AND THE VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS
ASSOCIATION ARE PROUD SPONSORS ." "VIRGINIA FARMING
>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU.
LARGE OR SMALL, VIRGINIA FARMERS PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE.
FARMING, IT IS ALL GOOD. TO LEARN MORE, GO TO VAFARM
BUREAU.ORG. >> BROUGHT TO YOU BY FARM
FAMILY. LIFE, AUTO, BUSINESS, FARM.
STEVE MORRIS, FRUIT GROWER, DISTILLER, ENTREPRENEUR.
ANOTHER PERSONAL STORY. FARM FAMILIES, THE PEOPLE YOU
KNOW. >> HI, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO "VIRGINIA FARMING." I'M AMY ROSCHER.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE TEACHING KIDS ABOUT
AGRICULTURE, AND A LOT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP
TEACHERS WITH LESSONS ABOUT VIRGINIA'S NUMBER ONE ECONOMY.
KAREN DAVIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIRGINIA
FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND SHE JOINS US
ON AG INSIGHTS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT AG IN THE CLASS IS DOING
HERE IN VIRGINIA. IT'S ALL COMING UP ON THIS
EDITION OF "VIRGINIA FARMING." ¶
THE VIRGINIA POULTRY FEDERATION RECENTLY SHOWED SUPPORT OF
HARRISONBURG'S STONE SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH
VIRGINIA'S AG IN THE CLASS ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THE DONATION ENSURES THAT TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL WILL
RECEIVE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION RESOURCES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ATTEND AN AITC WORKSHOP AT NO COST.
VIRGINIA POULTRY FEDERATION PRESIDENT HOBEY BAUHAN SAID THEY
WANTED TO MAKE THE DONATION BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR TEACHERS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AGRICULTURE SO THEY CAN SHARE
THAT KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR CHILDREN.
BAUHAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FAR
REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURE, AND THE POULTRY FEDERATION BELIEVES
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE AGRICULTURE IS
SO IMPORTANT TO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
NOW, BECAUSE OF THE DONATION, STONE SPRING ELEMENTARY WILL
RECEIVE AN EDUCATION KIT THAT INCLUDES A COPY OF A DAIRY DVD
AND OTHER MATERIALS, ACCESS TO MORE THAN 150 LESSON PLANS,
INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING AITC WORKSHOPS, THE LATEST AITC
TEACHER NEWSLETTER, AND A COPY OF "JUMP START YOUR GARDEN," A
COLLECTION OF LESSONS RELATED TO SCHOOL GARDENS.
OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WE ALSO ADOPTED BY INDIVIDUALS
AS WELL AS BUSINESSES. TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THE ADOPT A A SCHOOL PROGRAM, VISIT
AGINTHECLASS.ORG. ONE SHINING EXAMPLE OF
AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IS LAUREN ARBOGAST.
MRS. ARBOGAST IS A TEACHER AT KEISTER ELEMENTARY IN
HARRISONBURG WHO USES AGRICULTURE COMPONENTS TO TEACH
OTHER STANDARDS OF LEARNING. SHE IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO
TEACH HER KIDS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE.
LANI FURBANK HAS THE STORY. >> SOME PRESCHOOLERS BELIEVE
THAT THE MILK THEY DRINK SIMPLY COMES FROM THE GROCERY STORE.
>> HERE IN HARRISONBURG CITY, WE ARE JUST KIND OF FOOTSTEPS
REMOVED FROM THE FARMER, OR ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE FARM.
WE'RE SURROUNDED BY ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, WHICH IS A LOT OF RURAL,
IT'S A RURAL AREA. LOTS OF FARMS.
HOWEVER, THE CHILDREN HERE IN THE CITY, A LOT OF THEM DON'T
REALIZE THAT. >> SO MRS. ARBOGAST MAKES SURE
HER CLASS AT KEISTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TAKES THE TIME TO LEARN
WHERE THEIR FOOD REALLY COMES FROM.
>> A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD A LOCAL DAIRY FARMER COME IN, THEN
WE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SEE A COW, TOUCH A COW, AND FOR A LOT
OF KIDS, THAT WAS HUGE. BEING ABLE TO SEE THIS THING
THAT WAS HIGH ABOVE THEM, AND WE WERE EXPLAINING, THAT IS WHERE
AND THE COMES OUT, UPPER GRADES WERE ABLE TO USE
GARY ECONOMIC LEVELS -- LESSONS. >> THIS ACTIVITY WAS ONE
INSTALLMENT OF FARM FRIDAYS. >> FARM FRIDAY LESSONS ARE
SOMETHING THAT I TIE INTO OUR GENERAL PRESCHOOL THEME OR
CURRICULUM, OR A CONCEPT THAT WE'RE TEACHING, A LITERACY
CONCEPT OR A MATH CONCEPT. FOR EXAMPLE, PATTERNING, YOU CAN
DO PATTERNING WITH AN ASPECT OF AGRICULTURE, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE,
APPLES, AND YOU CAN DO A QUICK, TWO-MINUTE LESSON ON AN APPLE
ORCHARD AND FROM SEED TO GROCERY STORE JUST TO GIVE THE CHILDREN
BACKGROUND AND HOW IT REALLY WORKS.
>> BUT FRIDAY ISN'T THE ONLY TIME THESE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT
FARMING. >> DAILY, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S
ON THEIR CAFETERIA TRAY, AND WHERE THE DIFFERENT THINGS COME
FROM. AND SO AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO
A MONTH DOING THIS, YOU SEE THEM START TO STOP AND PROCESS.
>> YOU GET INTERESTING QUESTIONS, LIKE ONCE WE SHOW
WHERE MILK CAME FROM, A STUDENT ASKED IF AND BIGGERS --
HAMBURGERS CAME OUT THE SAME WAY.
>> TO EXPAND THESE LESSONS BEYOND HER OWN CLASSROOM, MRS.
ARBOGAST IS WORKING WITH AN INSTRUCTIONAL COACH TO INTEGRATE
LESSONS INTO CURRICULUMS FOR ALL LEVELS.
>> THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WERE NOT THERE BEFORE.
THEY WANTED TO BE FUN. THERE IS A NEVER-ENDING ENDING
LIST FOR A TEACHER. WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS
SUPPLY THEM WAYS THAT GIVEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON THEIR PLATE,
WE CAN DO AN OVERLAY THAT ALLOWS AGRICULTURE TO BE THERE TO.
IN THE FOURTH GRADE CURRICULUM, ONE PIECE OF VIRGINIA STUDIES
ARE VIRGINIA PRODUCTS, A PERFECT TIE IN.
>> AND LAST YEAR, MRS. ARBOGAST AND MRS. STUDWELL GAVE STUDENTS
AT KEISTER A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE FARM LIFE.
>> AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE A FARMING IN THE CITY
EVENT, OUR INAUGURAL ONE WAS LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD ABOUT 700
STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. THE STUDENTS GOT TO GET THEIR
HANDS ON A TRACTOR, TALK TO LOCAL FARMERS, MILK A FAKE COW,
AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF AGRICULTURE SO THEY
LITTLE PEEKST A INTO THE FARM.
>> THEY CAN THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AGRICULTURE HAS TO
OFFER. >> WE ARE NOT SETTING UP A
CAREER OPPORTUNITY DAY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN CAN
IDENTIFY THIS -- THEY SAY I WANT TO BE A POLICEMAN OR A FARMER --
OR A FIREFIGHTER, WE WANT THEM TO ADD FARMER.
>> FOR VA FARMING, I'M LANI FURBANK.
>> THANKS, LANI. GETTING MORE LOCALLY GROWN FOOD
TO SCHOOLS IS THE GOAL OF USDA'S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THE USDA'S BOB ELLISON HAS MORE. >> AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE GETTING
MORE OF THEIR FOOD IN SCHOOL FROM LOCAL FARMS AND GARDENS
THANKS TO THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S FARM TO SCHOOL
PROGRAM. A NEW USDA SURVEY SHOWS THAT
OVER THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND SCHOOLS WITH TWENTY ONE MILLION
STUDENTS ARE SERVING OVER THREE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IN
HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD. WITH EVERY LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE
MORE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY BACK TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND STAYS
IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FARM TO SCHOOL IS ONE OF MANY
TARGETED INVESTMENTS USDA IS MAKING TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS
AND RURAL BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW MARKET
OPPORTUNITIES. >> SO IT'S NOT ONLY AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGSTERS TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN
THEIR SCHOOL AND THEIR FARMERS, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC DRIVER
IN THE LOCALITY AND THE REGION. IT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER TO
BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, A LITTLE EASIER TO BUY DAIRY, AND
WE'RE EVEN SEEING SOME OF THE PROTEIN SOURCES, EGGS AND
POULTRY AND MEAT BEING OF INTEREST TO LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. >> NORTHERN NEW MEXICO FARMER
DON BUSTOS IS PARTICIPATING IN THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM TO
GET HIS PRODUCE TO LOCAL SCHOOLS.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO GET A HIGH TUNNEL FOR SEASON EXTENSION.
THAT, ALONG WITH THE STUFF THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING FOR
SEVERAL YEARS, ALLOWED US TO INCREASE THE PRODUCT TO THE
SANTA FE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE FULL
DEMAND OF THE SANTA FE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SALAD GREENS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE WINTER. >> IN ADDITION TO GETTING FOOD
FROM LOCAL FARMS, MANY SCHOOLS ARE ALSO RAISING FOOD IN STUDENT
GARDENS. >> WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THE KIDS
SOME SAMPLINGS, SOME CHOICES. THEY WOULD HAVE AWARENESS OF IT.
AND THEN THEY STARTED A GARDEN CLUB IN THE SUMMERTIME.
SO, THE KIDS COME IN AND PLANT ALL OF THE PRODUCE THAT'S GROWN.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF LAND THAT CAN BE USED FOR THAT.
SO WE HAVE BIG, HIGH HOPES FOR THAT AND MAYBE TO DO SOME
OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS AND SO DO MORE TEACHING WITH THAT.
>> USDA'S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM IS PART OF THE HEALTHY HUNGER
FREE KIDS ACT THAT AIMS TO PUT HEALTHIER FOOD IN SCHOOL MEALS.
IN WASHINGTON FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, I'M
BOB ELLISON. >> THANKS, BOB.
A LOT OF AREAS IN VIRGINIA ALSO PARTICIPATE IN FARM TO SCHOOL
WEEK, INCLUDING ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, WHERE AGRICULTURE
EDUCATION MADE ITS WAY INTO SCHOOL CAFETERIAS AND BEYOND.
>> NOT A LOT OF KIDS KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.
>> AND THAT'S SOMETHING FARM TO SCHOOL WEEK, HELD THE SECOND
WEEK OF NOVEMBER, IS TRYING TO CHANGE.
GERALD LEHMAN, DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES FOR
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS, SEES FARM TO SCHOOL WEEK AS A
A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. SOT: >> WE HAVE ESPECIALLY SMALL
CHILDREN WHO COME THROUGH THE LINES AND DON'T KNOW WHAT
CERTAIN FOODS ARE. HAVEN'T EVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.
DOESN'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM AND JUST HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THE
CONCEPT OF WHERE FOOD COMES FROM.
THEY THINK IT COMES FROM THE GROCERY STORE.
AND THAT'S REALLY ALL THEY KNOW. AND I THINK FOR THAT REASON IF
NONE OTHER IT'S A REASON TO FOCUS ON WHERE FOOD COMES FROM.
>> ON THURSDAY OF FARM TO SCHOOL WEEK, LEHMAN CREATED A MENU OF
LOCAL FOODS, AND EVEN MADE PERSONAL DELIVERIES TO THE 23
SCHOOLS IN HIS DISTRICT TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> SO THE TURKEY FOR EXAMPLE TODAY AT ALL 23 SCHOOLS CAME
FROM HINTON AT THE VA POULTRY GROWERS COOP SO WE WERE HAPPY TO
PARTNER WITH THEM SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
OUR POTATOES CAME FROM CLIFFORD ROHR OUT IN THE DAYTON AREA WITH
VALLEY FARMING AND OUR BROCCOLI CAME FROM OAK GROVE FARM.
AND OUR ROLL, WE OF COURSE COMMODITY FLOUR WHICH IS PART OF
OUR USDA PROGRAM. AND SHOWALTER'S ORCHARD FOR THE
APPLES. WE HAD BEEN USING SHOWALTER'S
ORCHARD FOR A LONG TIME. MANY, MANY YEARS, SO THAT'S ONE
PRODUCT WE USE EVERY YEAR ALL THE TIME AS LONG AS WE CAN GET
IT IN SEASON. >> THE MENU WASN'T THE ONLY
DIFFERENT THING HAPPENING THAT DAY.
A FEW MEMBERS OF THE FFA CHAPTER OF J. FRANK HILLYARD MIDDLE
SCHOOL IN BROADWAY HELPED PREPARE LUNCH, HELD AN AG TRIVIA
CONTEST, AND BROUGHT IN SOME UNIQUE GUESTS.
>> AND I GUESS THIS WEEK IS THE BIGGEST WEEK BECAUSE WE JUST PUT
OUT BABY CALVES IN FRONT OF THE CAFETERIA SO ITS HARD TO MISS
THAT. >> AS PRESIDENT OF HER FFA
CHAPTER, LOHR KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF FARM TO SCHOOL
WEEK. >> THEY THINK ITS JUST FOOD.
IT'S NOT JUST FOOD, WELL YOU JUST HAVE TO TELL THEM STRAIGHT
UP, YOU KNOW A FARMER GREW THIS AND HE TOOK HIS TIME TO GROW
THIS FOR YOU TO EAT AND ME TO EAT.
ITS JUST HOW PEOPLE MAKE A LIVING AND HOW IT KEEPS THE
WORLD RUNNING. >> VIRGINIA AITC IS PART OF A
NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO HELP TEACHERS AND STUDENTS UNDERSTAND
AND APPRECIATE AGRICULTURE, WHICH IS VIRGINIA'S AND THE
NATION'S LARGEST INDUSTRY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA'S
AG IN THE CLASS, KAREN DAVIS JOINS US.
>> YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK OF AG CLASS, AND THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR KAREN DAVIS JOINS US. WELCOME TO "VIRGINIA FARMING."
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> I'M EXCITED YOU ARE HERE.
THE CLASSAS AG IN BEEN AROUND?
>> FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS. >> AND YOU ARE A NONPROFIT.
>> WE ARE. THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
FUND AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM.
ANDRE HELPED OUT WITH STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS LIKE I.T.
SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTING, AND THEN $350,000 A30,000 TO
YEAR TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES. >> WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MISSION?
>> HELP CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE UNDERSTAND AND
APPRECIATE AGRICULTURE. AS YOU WELL KNOW, MOST OF THE
POPULATION IS NOT INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE.
LESS THAN 2% IS INVOLVED. PEOPLE HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH
WHERE THEIR FOOD AND FIBER COME FROM.
WE WANT TO BRING AGRICULTURE BACK TO THOSE PEOPLE.
>> SO, HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? I KNOW YOU DO SOME WORKSHOPS,
BUT GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW YOU GO ABOUT TRAINING
TEACHERS AND GETTING EVERYONE INVOLVED.
>> WE WORK WITH TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE GO INTO THEIR
SCHOOLS OR DO REGIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND WE ALSO WORK WITH
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, REGULARLY HERE WITH GMU, WHICH
ARE PRESERVICE TEACHERS, AND WE HELP THEM UNDERSTAND AGRICULTURE
IN THE STATE. IT IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.
WE HAVE THE VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL MAP THAT SHOWS THE
FIVE REGIONS, AND IT IS ALSO INCLUDING A NUMBER OF THE
PRODUCTS THAT WE GROW IN VIRGINIA FROM LETTUCE, TO DAIRY,
TO POULTRY, CORN, SOYBEANS, PEANUTS -- LOTS OF DIFFERENT
THINGS. VIRGINIA IS A DIVERSE
AGRICULTURAL STATE. THAT OPENS TEACHERS EYES INTO
HOW MUCH WE PRODUCE HERE. >> DO YOU GET THAT FROM
TEACHERS? ANDOU GET A LOT OF SURPRISE
-- "I HAD NO IDEA THIS CAME FROM VIRGINIA AND WE COULD GROW THIS
HERE?" IN NORTHERNY,
VIRGINIA, TIDEWATER, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT
OUT HERE IN THE VALLEY WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST POULTRY
PRODUCERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT WE GROW COTTON AND
SOYBEANS, AND THE VARIETY OF USES THAT SOYBEANS HAVE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH IT. TEACHERS ARE OPEN TO LEARNING
ABOUT AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE CITY I DO NOT HAVE
A LOT OF EXPOSURES. >> FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THE
KIDS SEEM TO BE REALLY EXCITED. >> THE KIDS HAVE A GREAT TIME.
WE DO NOT WORK WITH THEM OFTEN, BECAUSE WE ARE MOSTLY WORKING
WITH THEIR TEACHERS, BUT WE DO DAYS, AND THE
KIDS ARE GREAT. THEY ARE SO EXCITED.
WE CAN SHOW THEM ANIMALS, THEY CAN TOUCH TOTTEN OR SHAFT WEEK
-- COTTON OR SHAFT WEEK, THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE PART OF WHAT
IS GOING ON. >> AT THE STATE FAIR, THERE WERE
SO MANY HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. WE WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE
THINGS THE KIDS WERE DOING, AND THEY HAD THAT VIRGINIA MAP.
WHEN YOU GO IN AND YOU SEE THAT KIDS, AND VIRGINIA TECH IS
USUALLY THERE WITH THEIR JARS FOR THE KIDS TO FILL UP WITH
SOYBEANS AND ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEANS AND CROPS, AND THEY
JUST LOVE THAT. THEY GET THEIR HANDS IN IT.
ART. CALL THAT GRAIN YOU CAN DO IT WITH SAND, BUT WE
DO IT WITH GRAINS. YOU CAN SEE THE TEXTURE AND THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRAINS. WHEN WE SEND IT HOME WITH
TEACHERS, WE TELL THEM, HAVE THE KIDS DO SOME SORT OF JOURNAL --
WHICH ONES DO THEY THINK WOULD GERMINATE THE FASTEST?
IS THE BIGGEST ONE GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT GROWS THE TALLEST?
THERE ARE EDUCATIONAL THINGS YOU CAN TIE TO THOSE FUN PROJECTS.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE DOING SO MUCH WORK ALL OVER THE
STATE AND REALLY HAVING AN IMPACT, WHICH IS SUCH A GOOD
THING. NOW, DO YOU GUYS HAVE A THEME
EVERY YEAR? >> WE DO.
THIS HERE, OUR E-MAILS JUMPSTART YOUR GARDEN, OR JUMP INTO YOUR
GARDEN, AND THIS IS WRITTEN FROM A NATIONAL GRANT.
WE PRESENTED THIS AT THE NECK -- NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IN THE
CLASSROOM PROGRAM, AND THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE HIT WITH TEACHERS.
WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH ABOUT 1100 TEACHERS.
IT HAS GREAT INFORMATION THAT TEACHERS ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AND GRADE LEVELS CAN USE. THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN LOVING
IT. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN
DO THAT NOT ONLY BRINGS AGRICULTURE INTO THE CLASSROOMS,
BUT HELPS THEM INCORPORATE HEALTH AND NUTRITION ISSUES.
SOMETHINGAND THAT IS ELSE -- I NOTICE YOU GUYS TO NOT
JUST BRING IN TEACHERS FOR TRAINING.
YOU GIVE THEM MATERIALS TO HELP THEM, AND A LOT OF IT IS THE
HANDS-ON STUFF. THERE ARE RECIPES IN THIS YEAR'S
BOOK, AND THINGS THAT HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND HOW IT GETS FROM THE
FARM TO THEIR TABLE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
THE VIRGINIA MAP THAT YOU REFERENCE THAT THE STATE FAIR IS
THE MAP THAT TEACHERS RECEIVE, IT IS LAMINATED, AND THEY CAN
USE THAT WITH THEIR CLASSES THROUGH THE YEAR.
THE BACKSIDE IS AN OUTLINE SO THAT THE KIDS CAN MAP IN
DIFFERENT COMMODITIES. THAT IS THE MOST UTILIZED AND
REQUESTED RESOURCE FROM US BECAUSE IT HAS CONNECTIONS TO
STANDARDS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, AND IT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR
TEACHERS TO USE, WHETHER THEY ARE IN KINDERGARTEN OR FIFTH
GRADE, SO THEY RECEIVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FROM US.
>> WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FEEDBACK? ARE THEY ON BOARD, DO YOU GET
PUSHBACK -- WE DO NOT THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT -- OR --
>> WE HAVE GREAT FEEDBACK, GREAT RAPPORT WITH THE TEACHERS.
EACH ONE OF OUR WORKSHOPS HAS AN 98%UATION PIECE TO IT, AND
SAID THEY WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO A COLLEAGUE, WHICH IS HIGH
PRAISE. WE RECENTLY DID ONE HERE, I
BELIEVE IT WAS A BAD GMU, -- JAY GMU, AND WAS UP AT
CHILDREN WERE SO INTERESTED ABOUT THE VIRGINIA MAP, SO SHE
SPENT HER TIME DOING THAT. WE ARE FLEXIBLE WITH THE
WORKSHOPS. STUDENTS HELP TO DIRECT THAT.
>> WELL, I KNOW WE TALK ON THE SHOW A LOT ABOUT AG LITERACY
WEEK, SO I WANTED YOU TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, WHEN THE
NEXT ONE IS, AND WHAT GOES ON. >> WE ARE EXCITED.
WEEK, AND WEOURTH ARE HOPING WE CAN PUSH THE
NUMBER TWO 2000 READERS. THIS IS OUR BOOK OF THE YEAR,
"WHAT'S IN THE GARDEN." IT WILL BE FROM MARCH 2030 --
AND IT ISO MARCH 29, A GREAT BOOK WITH A RIDDLE THEME
AND RECIPES THAT YOU CAN DO IN THE CLASSROOM IF THE TEACHER
ALLOWS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT IT ON
WWW. AG.ORG. .T IS A FUN TIME
I READ TO ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN CLASSROOMS, AND THE KIDS HAVE
GREAT QUESTIONS. >> I LIKE READING, TOO, AND IT
IS FUN GETTING THE RESPONSES. THEY ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND --
ASKED THE COURT 8 -- THEY ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS, AND
SOMETIMES I FREEZE. THATEY COME UP WITH A VIEW
STOP YOU, LIKE LAST YEAR IT WAS HOW MANY ACRES OF CORN WERE
GROWN IN MY COUNTY, AND I DID NOT HAVE THE ANSWER AT THE TOP
OF MY HEAD. >> A LOT.
>> YES, IT WAS A LOT. IT WAS THE EASTERN PART OF THE
STATE, SO IT WAS HERE IN -- IT WAS.
[LAUGHTER] >> ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT
GO ON DURING AG LITERACY WEEK? BUREAU'SHE COUNTY FARM
HAD TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. -- SOME OF THE COUNTY FARM
BUREAU'S HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS SOYBEANS.
[LAUGHTER] KIDS GOING INTO
READING, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE KIDS LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEIR
OLDER BROTHERS OR SISTERS. WE HAVE HAD COOPERATIVE
EXTENSIONS, BRINGING IN CROPS AND ANIMALS, SO WE HAVE HAD A
LOT OF PEOPLE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS A GREAT
SUPPORTER, AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
THEY LOVE TO SEE THE SIZE OF THE MEALS -- MEALS THAT THE HORSES
AND COWS GET. SEEIGHT, AND ANYTIME THEY
SOMETHING THAT IS NEW TO THEM OR THAT THEY DO NOT GET TO SEE
EVERY DAY -- THEY MIGHT SEE SOMETHING -- IN VIRGINIA, WE
HAVE A LOT OF RURAL AREAS, IT AND CAN'T GET TO SEE IT FROM
AFAR, BUT THEY DO NOT ALWAYS GET TO SEE IT CLOSE-UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WHILE WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE
STATE, THE KIDS OUT IN LAKE COUNTY TO NAZI COTTON GROWING,
AND THE KIDS THAT ARE IN -- DO CO SEE TOTTEN GROWING, --
TTEN GROWING, AND OTHERS DO NOT SEE CATTLE.
BECAUSE WE ARE WITH SO MUCH DIVERSITY, WE ARE PRETTY
DIVERSE, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT BACK
AND FORTH, AND BRING COTTON BALLS OUT TO LEE COUNTY AND
WESTERN COUNTY. IT IS A LOT OF FUN WHEN KIDS GET
TO SEE IT, AND INVARIABLY, SOMEBODY WILL CUT THEIR HAND ON
IT. >> OF COURSE.
THAT IS HOW IT WORKS. YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THE
AGRICULTURE FOR THE CLASSROOM, AND THIS IS NOT VIRGINIA ALONE,
IT IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM, CORRECT?
>> IT IS NATIONAL. IT STARTED IN THE 1980'S BY THE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND REALIZED KIDS WERE GETTING
FURTHER FROM FARMS. HE STARTED THE PROGRAM.
THEY GREW UP DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE, BUT WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
THROUGH THE AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM CONSORTIUM.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS IN THE SOUTHERN REGION.
CURRICULUMRE OUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE JUMPSTART YOUR GARDEN CURRICULUM WAS PRESENTED AT AN
-- AT THE LAST NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND IS BEING UTILIZED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> THAT IS GREAT.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE WORK IS BEING UTILIZED NOT JUST IN
THE STATE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND ONCE AGAIN, YOUR WEBSITE, THEY
CAN VISIT -- AGINTHECLASS.ORG.
>> THANK YOU, KAREN. THAT DOES IT FOR OUR SHOW.
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
I'M AMY ROSCHER FOR VIRGINIA FARMING.
¶ CAPTIONED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --WWW.NCICAP.ORG--
¶
-- >> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE VIRGINIA
FARM BUREAU. FROM APPLES TO ZUCCHINI,
VIRGINIA FARMERS WORK HARD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
FARMING, IT IS ALL GOOD. >> BROUGHT TO YOU BY FARM
FAMILY, LIFE, AUTO, BUSINESS, FARM, JIM GRAY, FARMERS ON,
AGRICULTURE BUSINESS OWNER, AGENT.
ANOTHER PERSONAL STORY. FARM FAMILY, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU
KNOW.