POLK COUNTY

Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is a national program of the USDA and administered in Iowa by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The mission of AITC is to help students in grades K-12 acquire the knowledge needed to become agriculturally literate. The program’s objective is to encourage educators to teach about our food and fiber system and the role of agriculture in our economy and society.

The Polk County Farm Bureau Board has recently placed a renewed emphasis on the program and created a full-time position to assist Polk County educators in teaching about the agriculture and natural resources that are so important to our individual lives, the state of Iowa, and society.

Resources Currently Available:

Agriculture information and resources. Call or email if you are looking for resources, need a lesson plan for a particular topic and subject, or have a specific question about agriculture. Many educational kits, videos, and resources are available for teachers to check out at no charge. Contact Cindy Sobaski at 515-402-5250 or csobaski@ifbf.org.

Farm Fieldtrips. Visiting a local farm is a great way for students to connect with agriculture and learn about the plants and animals grown in central Iowa. Ag in the Classroom can make arrangements for your class to visit a farm, and work with you and the farmer to ensure that the field trip is a valuable learning experience. Please contact Cindy Sobaski for more information.

Monthly e-mail updates. Any educator in Polk County may sign-up to receive a monthly email from AITC. The emails will include an update on what’s happening on central Iowa farms this month, ag facts, lesson ideas, and information on AITC activities and grants. To add someone to this list, please send their name, title, and email address to csobaski@ifbf.org.

Outreach opportunities. Let Ag in the Classroom have a presence at your school by inviting us to attend a teacher’s meeting, science event, career fair, or any activity in which we can share ag-related information. We would be happy to attend a workshop, in-service, or staff meeting to provide an introduction to AITC, promote the Teacher Supplement Grant program, or provide information on a specific agriculture topic or issue.

Teacher Supplement Grants. Since 2003, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation has awarded more than $150,000 in grants to fund agriculture related activities, field trips, or materials. Applications for grants are available in November, and applications must be submitted by February 1. Classrooms may receive up to $200, and there is no limit to how many grants one school may receive.

Teacher’s Academy. Each summer Iowa Farm Bureau offers three regional teacher’s academies across the state. The academy is an excellent opportunity for teachers to learn more about agriculture and how to integrate it into their curriculum. Teachers can receive Professional Development Credit (issued by the Area Education Agencies) or graduate level credit.

For more information contact:
Cindy Hall
Ag in the Classroom Program Director
Polk County Farm Bureau
300 S.E. Delaware
Ankeny, IA 50021
515-402-5250 (office & cell)
chall@ifbf.org