Farm commodity organizations in Nebraska and around the country work hard to engage in activities on behalf of producers. Helping to educate a new generation of producers and consumers is all part of that overall strategy, so numerous ag groups have gone above and beyond to provide educational and fun resources for classroom teachers to share with their students.

Here is a rundown of just a few of those resources available:

Nebraska Wheat Growers Association. At nebraskawheat.com, among the buttons at the top of the website is a dropdown called “Educators.” Clicking on this button will lead you to specific information on the flour milling process, nutrition facts about wheat, the story of wheat, wheat from the field to flour and a wheat quiz.

Heavily illustrated with infographics and kid-friendly designs, these different pages walk teachers and students through nutritional information about wheat, but also how wheat is grown and where it is grown in Nebraska and across the country.

Nebraska Corn Board. Stop by nebraskacorn.gov, and it is easy to find teacher resources under the “Education and Leadership” tab. Teacher resources include information about Pivotal, a website where teachers have access to curriculum, lesson plans, and educational games and activities.

Kernels of Knowledge is a 4-H curriculum funded in part by the Nebraska Corn Board, with information on the uses of corn, the life cycle of corn and more. There is also an in-depth description of the popular Ag in the Classroom program.

Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board. At nebraskasorghum.org, visit the Sorghum Army Outpost tab for brief video podcasts, “Sergeant Sorghum and His Amazing Friends,” led by Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board executive director Nate Blum, covering numerous topics surrounding sorghum with special guests.

Nebraska Soybean Board. Visit nebraskasoybeans.org and click on the “Education” tab to learn more about teacher resources from the Nebraska Soybean Board. Information on this page talks about the Nebraska Ag Sack Lunch program, designed to educate Nebraska fourth graders on the important role of ag in Nebraska.

Soybean Board soy educators travel the state to present hourlong “Soybeans: A-Z” presentations to fourth grade classrooms as well. There is also a tab that discusses how soybeans help to meet global demand for food and fuel. Several other interactive soybean resources are found on this page.

NDA poster contest

To highlight agriculture, the state’s No. 1 industry, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture is asking students to enter its annual poster contest. The contest is open to all Nebraska students (public, private and home-school) in first through sixth grades. This year’s theme is “Nebraska Agriculture Makes the Good Life Great.”

“Nebraska agriculture makes the good life great in so many ways,” NDA Director Steve Wellman says. “Nebraska has an abundant water supply, excellent soil and a favorable climate to support a wide variety of crops and livestock. Nebraskans are the best people, too, working hard to keep the state growing.”

NDA’s poster contest is divided into three age categories: first and second grade students, third and fourth grade students, and fifth and sixth grade students. Entries must be received at NDA’s office by March 1. NDA will announce the winners during National Ag Week, March 20-26.

NDA will feature winning entries from this year’s contest on its website and in promotional materials and publications. The poster contest gives parents and teachers an opportunity to talk with students about Nebraska agriculture and the many ways we depend on it.

Poster contest rules and official entry forms are available at nda.nebraska.gov/kids. For more information, email Christin Kamm at [email protected].