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Teachers on the "A Day in the Life of a Farmer Teacher Tour" learn from our tour guide at Guardian Energy ethanol processing plant near Janesville, MN.
We have had fantastic experiences with over 100 teachers on our Summer Teacher Tours! Thank you teachers, for spending a day with us this summer to explore agricultural sites and brainstorm opportunities for sharing these experiences with your students.
 The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) is offering a free, one-day summer virtual conference sponsored by BASF, CHS Foundation, and Corteva Agriscience on July 20th, from 10:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Eastern STandard Time.
Hear from children's book author Lisl H. Detlefsen, and attend valuable sessions featuring a variety of agricultural subjects and interests for all grade levels.
This professional development event is sure to leave you with valuable agricultural literacy resources and excitement for the new school year.
The conference will be recorded and accessible shortly after it takes place. Participants will receive a certificate to claim professional development points for attending.
 The MAITC Foundation is excited to provide cash awards to K-12 educators through the Agricultural Literacy Grant Program. These grants encourage educators to bring agriculture and food systems education "to life" by integrating related content into their classroom. Grants are available for new ideas as well as enhancements to current events/activities.
FFA Chapters and 4-H programs are also eligible for grant funds to promote agricultural literacy with students in their community.
 MN Delegation to NAITCO Conference Back row left to right: Evan White, Ann Marie Ward (MAITC Foundation Executive Director and MN Farm Bureau representative), Sue Knott (MAITC Education Specialist), Tiffany Kobbermann (MN Farm Bureau representative), Marie Kruse Front row left to right: Jeni Breidenbach, Chantelle Seykora (MN Farm Bureau representative), Haley Madson, Keri Sidle (MAITC Education Specialist)
Nine Minnesota educators traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the annual National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) Conference, June 26-29, 2023. This conference is the premier professional development event for pre-K-12 teachers, volunteers, and professionals in agricultural literacy.
Four Minnesota educators received scholarships to attend the NAITCO Conference:
- Jeni Breidenbach, social studies teacher at Minnetonka High School, received the MAITC Educator Advisory Member Scholarship from the MAITC Foundation
- Marie Kruse, kindergarten teacher at Bluff View Elementary in Lake City, was awarded the CHS Foundation Scholarship
- Haley Madison, first grade teacher at St. Anne’s School in Le Sueur, received the 2023 Outstanding Educator scholarship from the MAITC Foundation
- Evan White, kindergarten teacher at Red Lake Schools in Red Lake, was awarded the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) Scholarship
Conference goers had the opportunity to attend workshops and tours, explore exhibits, and network with other professionals to help them learn more about teaching through an agricultural lens.
Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your classroom mascot?
The Discover Dairy “Adopt a Cow” program is an exciting, year-long experience for your classroom. Throughout the program, you’ll get an inside look at dairy farming and be paired with a calf from a working dairy farm in the United States. You’ll find out what her name is, when her birthday is, where she lives, and how the farmer takes care of her. You’ll also receive progress updates, photos of the cow, live chats from the farm, activity sheets for your students, suggested lessons that follow Common CORE standards, and even opportunities to write letters to your calf! All updates are easily accessible via an online portal and app for Apple and Android.
Register for this school year between May 1 and September 15, and join the moo-vement that has impacted 1 million students across the globe! Visit www.discoverdairy.com/adopt to learn more about the free program.
July Trivia Question: Many Minnesotans are enjoying fresh produce from local farms through a CSA program. What do the letters CSA stand for?
Send your answer to sue.knott@state.mn.us. The first two people to respond with the correct answer will win a MAITC travel mug.
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