ALBANY — State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball and State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, along with more than 30 employees from the Department of Agriculture and Markets, are proud to participate in 2018 NY Agricultural Literacy Week. Now in its 14th year, Agricultural Literacy Week is a statewide effort to educate students about the importance of agriculture and opportunities for careers in the industry. Beginning today, volunteers will visit elementary schools across the state to engage with students through literature and hands-on activities.
New York State has one of the longest running and largest Agricultural Literacy Week programs in the country. This year, more than 58,000 students across 57 counties will participate in Agricultural Literacy Week.
“Getting young children excited about food and agriculture is essential to building healthy eating habits and to introducing them to the many possibilities for future jobs in this industry,” Commissioner Ball said. “For many children, this is their only exposure to agriculture and understanding where their food comes from. I am thrilled to join my staff and other volunteers in this fun opportunity and to encourage others to get involved.”
“New York has a vibrant and thriving agricultural industry,” said Commissioner Reardon. “Agricultural Literacy Week is a tremendous opportunity for young people to gain exposure to the career opportunities that are available on our state’s farms as they learn about how their food is sourced. It’s gratifying to be able to connect with young women and men and help get them thinking about how their futures will take shape.”
NY Agricultural Literacy Week is organized by New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC). Each year, thousands of volunteers visit schools throughout the state to read an agricultural-themed book to first through third graders. Students also benefit from an interactive lesson with volunteers sharing their experiences in agriculture. Teachers are provided with follow up activities to continue these important educational opportunities throughout the school year. All follow up lessons, activities and supplementary materials are aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards.
This year, volunteers will read “Before We Eat: From Farm to Table” by Pat Brisson, which showcases the diversity of New York agriculture and the significance of the industries that support it. The book shows students a variety of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers that are essential to the food system. The books are then donated to the school or classroom library.
Volunteers work with their county coordinators to set up visits to their local schools. To volunteer for future Agricultural Literacy Week events, contact a county coordinator. A complete list is available here.
The Commissioners will be reading to students at the following schools:
Commissioner Reardon
Donald P. Sutherland Elementary School (East Greenbush CSD)
Tuesday, March 20
Commissioner Ball
Schoharie Elementary School
Friday, March 23
Galway Central School
Friday, March 23
To learn more about the program, including previous Agricultural Literacy Week books and NYAITC, visit https://www.agclassroom.org/ny/programs/literacy.cfm.
Expanding Agricultural Education Throughout New York State
Agricultural Literacy Week is part of a larger effort by NYAITC to educate students on food production and to raise awareness of career opportunities in this field. To advance the mission of NYAITC and similar organizations, the State committed a record $3.6 million in the 2017-18 State Budget for agricultural education programs including a state-of-the-art test kitchen and food science lab. The funding is also being used to expand NYAITC, double the number of certified agricultural educators and add 100 New York Future Farmers of America (NY FFA) chapters across the state—three goals outlined in Governor Cuomo’s 2017 State of the State address.
Significant progress is already being made to accomplish these goals while supporting healthy eating habits and future workforce development among students. NYAITC is currently accepting applications for three grant and scholarship programs designed to promote agricultural literacy in schools and support professional development opportunities on a state and national level.
In addition, more than 940 students recently participated in the Top Cut Beef Contest, an experiential learning competition organized by NYAITC and the New York Beef Council. During the contest, participants gained hands-on experience in product creation, web design, television production and strategic marketing while learning about the beef industry.
In January, NYAITC awarded funding to provide indoor growing systems, including tower gardens, high tunnels, grow racks and garden cubes, to 20 schools throughout the state. In the same month, 84 schools were awarded Agricultural Incentive Grants to create new or enhance agricultural education programs in their communities. These funds will improve the quality of existing agricultural education and FFA programs with a focus on youth leadership development, career exploration and supervised agricultural experiences.
Last year, 15 new NY FFA chapters were chartered and more than 28 schools welcomed new agricultural educators. NY FFA is seeing increased participation in youth leadership development while showcasing careers in agriculture, and schools across New York continue to start programs. The NY Association of Agricultural Educators also launched an educator mentoring program, hosted two professional development conferences, and awarded 12 scholarships to send educators to an intensive training program to learn how to implement the national Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE).
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Senator Patty Ritchie, said, “Through events like Agricultural Literacy Week, we not only build support for the important work our hardworking farmers do each day, but we also encourage our children to eat the healthy, fresh foods they grow and produce. I am hopeful that that this week, children across the state will learn new things about New York’s leading industry and then one day, be a part of shaping its future.”
Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair, Assemblyman Bill Magee, said, “This week, volunteers across New York are taking a hands-on approach to sharing what they know and love about agriculture with school children- through books! As they turn the pages, they spark young imaginations with stories in celebration of food culture, animal husbandry and farm life, creating a lifelong interest and possibly a career path for some children.”
Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, said: “No other human endeavor can match agriculture’s impact on the planet and its people. Modern agriculture requires knowledge across the natural sciences – not to mention political science, economics, philosophy, IT and communications. Agriculture offers exciting professional opportunities for students that are intellectually challenging and rewarding. Ag Literacy Week provides the perfect window to explore the many disciplines comprising today’s agriculture.”
Katie Carpenter, Director of New York Agriculture in the Classroom, said, “New York Agriculture in the Classroom works creatively to help teachers use the lens of agriculture to meet their student achievement goals. With the growing agriculture industries in our rural and urban communities, we hope to create generations of students who understand and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our daily lives.”
Shari Lighthall, Director of the Agriculture Education and Outreach program, said, “Students enrolled in STEM based agricultural education will be our next biotechnologists, environmental engineers, and food scientist who will improve our food supply by producing higher yields with greater food safety standards. Growing agricultural education and FFA programs will ensure that we have an adequate workforce to grow, harvest, transport, store, and market the products we need for our growing population.”
Derek Hill, New York FFA Director, said, “FFA is an integral component of agricultural education that prepares New York’s Agricultural leaders of tomorrow. FFA builds on student’s personal growth, career success, and leadership development while encouraging students to pursue higher education, and high-demand careers in agriculture.”
About New York Agriculture in the Classroom
Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau.
Its mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how food and fiber are produced, what we eat and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems.
Learn more at https://www.agclassroom.org/ny/index.cfm.
–NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
For more articles out of New York, click here.