The Farm Bureaus of Warren, Polk, and Dallas Counties recently partnered to present Ag in the Classroom resources during the “School Garden 101” workshop organized by ISU Extension and Outreach. This three-part series was held at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens and brought together school teams from across the region to plan, build, and enhance school garden programs.

As part of their presentation, the county Farm Bureaus shared practical, classroom-ready tools to help educators connect agriculture to core subjects through hands-on learning. Each participating team received a “Garden in a Glove” activity kit, generously provided by their respective county Farm Bureau, along with a sample lesson about the story of “The Three Sisters”—a traditional Native American planting method that ties agriculture to cultural and historical studies.

Teams from Southeast Warren and Carlisle represented Warren County in the workshop. Working with Master Gardener mentors, all school teams developed sustainable garden plans, explored curriculum integration, and received support in pursuing grant opportunities.

The workshop highlighted the impact of local collaboration in promoting agricultural literacy and experiential education in Iowa schools.