6-29-07
Contact: Maria Samot, (803) 936-4237

Teachers Learn About Agriculture as
They Prepare for New School Year

Fifty South Carolina teachers representing 26 public and private schools in 18 counties are ready to start the school year with a greater appreciation for agriculture and are better equipped to teach their students about the sources of their food, fiber, and forestry products.

These teachers recently completed an intensive week of study at the annual South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s (SCFB) Ag in the Classroom Institute in Columbia, SC. Participating teachers also received three hours of graduate credit (good towards their teacher re-certification) from Clemson University.

SCFB President David Winkles said, “We’re counting on our state’s teachers to help us educate young consumers about the value of agriculture. Most kids today think that food comes from the grocery store and that clothes come from the mall. If agriculture is to maintain its status as the second largest industry in South Carolina – providing more than 450,000 jobs – we’ve got to help people understand the link between their food, fiber and shelter and the farm. Ag in the Classroom is a tool to help us accomplish that goal.”

Teachers heard from agriculture and education experts about topics such as poultry embryology, fertilizers and integrated pest management, and student learning styles. During tours of local farms and agribusinesses, teachers saw chickens laying eggs at C&E Breeder farm, viewed the mechanics of no-till cotton planting at Brown Farms, watched produce and groceries being warehoused and distributed to clients at Harvest Hope Food Bank, and learned about the structure of peanut plants at Cowden Plantation.

The annual Institute, available to pre-kindergarten through high school certified classroom teachers in SC public or private schools, continues to grow. “We have seen a continuing increase in the number of applications over the past several years,” said Maria Samot, AITC director. “Ag in the Classroom lesson plans are aligned to the South Carolina Standards and the AITC Institute features hands-on learning as well as exciting tours of the ag industry in our state.” Applications for the summer Institute are mailed to South Carolina schools in March.

2007 Institute sponsors include South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation (SCFB), the AITC Fund, SC Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, AgSouth Farm Credit, ArborOne Financial, SC Beef Board, SC Soybean Board, SC Pork Board, SC Peanut Board, SC Nursery and Landscape Association, SC Greenhouse Growers Association, SC Advocates for Agriculture, and Staplcotn.

SCFB’s Ag in the Classroom program offers cost-free grade specific lesson plans, related materials and year-round in-service workshops to South Carolina pre-kindergarten through high school teachers, schools and school districts. For more information or to schedule an in-service workshop, call Ag in the Classroom Director Maria Samot, 1-800-628-4571.

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