Many teachers throughout Iowa integrate agriculture into their classroom to enrich student learning experiences and apply science, social studies, language arts and many other subjects. Through an awards program of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, those teachers can be recognized for their efforts.

The Iowa Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award is open to teachers of grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The award will recognize teachers for their integrated efforts to teach students about the importance of food and agriculture and increase students’ ag literacy. An agriculturally literate person understands and can communicate the source and value of food and agriculture as it affects quality of life.

Teaching students about food, farming
Applications will be accepted through mid-November, and the winner will be selected and recognized in January. The selected Iowa teacher will receive $500 to support his or her classroom instruction. The person will also receive up to $1,000 to cover expenses to attend the 2018 National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in Portland, Maine, June 26-29.

Exemplary teachers will showcase innovative ways that they integrate food and agriculture in their classroom. Agriculture can be the vehicle to teach a number of other content areas and apply these concepts in a relevant way for Iowa students. Creative teachers will help students make connections between food production, health, energy systems, economics, environment and their interconnectedness in agriculture. Pioneering teachers will help students connect to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

Last year’s winner, DeEtta Andersen from Center Point-Urbana, went on to receive national recognition for her exemplary teaching efforts. Visit the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation for more information or to apply online.