TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension Unit 18 Agriculture Literacy Program held a workshop for local teachers on June 20, at the Christian County Extension Office. The workshop was offered to K-12 teachers in Christian and surrounding counties. This program provided educators with lessons and activities to incorporate agriculture education into their existing curriculum. Participants of this year’s workshop were Dana Beetem, Stephanie Beyers, Kris Daugherty, Suzanne Grundy, Jennifer Lehn, Ashley McCallister, Dana Montes, Beth Morrell, Darlene Myers, Tabitha Oller, Daphne Rodman, Cathy Schaeffer, Laura Schmitz, Lee Scropos, and Bonnie Van Ostran.
Participants heard from Laura Vollmer, Education Specialist for Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, who presented Born, Built and Grown in Illinois: Agriculture Lessons for the Classroom. Other guest speakers that represented Illinois commodities were Jill Williams, Nutrition Educator from St. Louis District Dairy Council, Carley Travis from Illinois Beef, and Madison Ballard and Austin Duncan from Illinois Corn Growers. Participants were able to tour Big M Berry Patch in Taylorville, where Mel and Rita Repscher treated the teachers to delicious berry desserts from the farm at the conclusion of the tour. Peter Ciriello from Clearwater Organic Farms, also allowed the teachers to tour the new Taylorville facility to learn about their hydroponic growing system.
This workshop is a part of a continuing education opportunity where educators earned over seven professional development hours. The goal is to encourage local teachers to use agriculture lessons and activities to teach core subjects. Charlotte Schuricht, Agriculture Literacy Program Coordinator, stated, “We hope to educate teachers on the importance of the agriculture industry in feeding the world and the impact of the agriculture industry right here in Christian County.”
University of Illinois Extension provides practical education that help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. For more information visit the Unit 18 website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cjmm or contact your local Extension office.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact our office. Universidad de Illinois ofrece igualdad de oportunidades en programas y empleo. Si usted necesita un ajuste razonable para participar en este programa, por favor póngase en contacto con nuestra oficina.
— University of Illinois Extension
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