By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Teachers across the Lone Star State learned more about agriculture and how they can incorporate agriculture into their classroom at this year’s Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Summer Ag Institute (SAI)in Waco.

During the four-day professional development event, educators toured farms, ranches and agribusinesses in Central Texas. They heard from industry professionals, educational experts and participated in hands-on activities to replicate in their classrooms.

“Summer Ag Institute is an interactive, hands-on learning experience for educators to become familiar with agriculture and incorporating agriculture into the classroom,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Education Outreach. “Educators toured farms and ranches to help them understand agriculture and discuss ways they can apply it to lessons and activities in their classrooms.”

Farm, ranch tours
Teachers toured TrueHarvest Farms in Belton, a hydroponic lettuce and leafy greens grower. The group toured the facility and followed the process from seedling to harvest. Educators learned about hydroponic food production systems and how the lettuce is grown, harvested, packaged and shipped through an automated process.

Ryan Trowbridge, an educator from Mansfield ISD, led a demonstration on how teachers can build their own hydroponic system in their classrooms with their students.

Educators visited Walker Honey Farm and learned about the honey extraction process. The visit left teachers buzzing with excitement about beekeeping and large-scale honey production.

At the AgriLife Extension Research Center in McGregor, teachers learned about beef cattle production and saw the cutting edge technology being used to monitor cattle. Dr. Ryon Walker discussed current studies being conducted at the research center and taught teachers how to formulate a feed ration.

Hands-on workshops, activities
During the Summer Ag Institute, various industry experts and fellow teachers facilitated hands-on activities and lessons the educators can mimic in their classrooms.

Michaelle Coker, a high school science teacher at Central Heights ISD, gave a group a lesson over DNA extraction where participants evaluated genotypes and phenotypes of cattle.

Seventh grade science teacher Lindsey Alleman plans to incorporate the lesson in her class next year. Alleman teaches at McCullogh Junior High, which is north of Houston, and is excited to share these new resources with her students to expose them to agriculture.

“Michaelle gave us advice on how to do the activity if we don’t have the same tools she does or who to contact to get the materials for our classroom,” Alleman said. “I’ve done a similar activity in my classroom, but now I can introduce it with breeds of cattle and bring in agriculture.”

In a session with Texas Tech Quail, teachers learned about a bobwhite’s life from egg to adulthood. The group saw the research being conducted using micro radio transmitters to study chick movement and habitat use data.

Teachers also heard from the National Ranching Heritage Center about resources available to use alongside Hank the Cowdog books.

Other sessions included information from a dairy farmer, forester and a visit with a local veterinarian about antibiotics and animal welfare, as well as learning how to use the resources available through TFB.

“Texas Farm Bureau gave us a lot of valuable tools and a lot of valuable activities and resources to help us bring agriculture in where we’re at and meet our students where they’re at,” Jordan Gates, a second-grade teacher at McGregor ISD, said.

Teacher experiences
Educators from urban and rural areas alike enjoyed the immersive experience.

Gates found the lessons and activities beneficial and the program exceeded his expectations.

“Summer Ag Institute has really gone above and beyond my expectations. I came in with an open mind, and we’ve seen so many cool things,” Gates said. “The presenters want you to succeed, and they’re willing to spend their time to help you and give you wisdom and lot of good resources to be successful.”

Gates looks forward to the next school year and implementing gardening in his classroom.

“One of the most valuable things I learned from the workshop was how to incorporate gardening in the classroom, whether that be hydroponics or traditional gardening,” Gates said. “That’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and didn’t feel like I had the tools or resources available to do that.”

Agriculture starts on farms and ranches, but it happens in the classroom, too.

“I am a novice when it comes to agriculture. I didn’t realize how diverse agriculture is and how it impacts our daily lives,” Alleman said. “Teaching seventh grade, they’re in that transition stage of figuring out what they want to do when they go into high school. I think that all starts with a teacher and introducing them to different fields of study.”

Alleman is encouraged to learn more and bring those experiences to her students.

“I’m continually trying to grow and being able to expose myself to these different professions, different types of lessons that help me bring that education to my students can be inspiring to them to look at different avenues for their life and seeing how agriculture relates to everything,” Alleman said.

About the event
The event took place June 10-13 in Waco.

The Lubbock SAI will be held July 16-19 at the FiberMax Center for Discovery.

For more information on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom efforts, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.