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Our Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) team is celebrating the 2025-26 school year by featuring an awesome teacher who uses agriculture as a context for teaching and learning each month. Our December featured teacher is Mr. Jordan Christianson!
Jordan Christianson, a Physical Education and Health teacher at Cherry Public School in Iron, Minnesota, integrates agriculture into his classroom to connect students to their community, to spark interest in agricultural careers, and to create meaningful and hands-on learning experiences that reach beyond school and into real life.
Mr. Christianson's lesson suggestions include:
To learn more about Mr. Christianson, visit our Featured Teachers webpage.
 When: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
What: Join us for a virtual field trip to a Minnesota dairy farm where technology and agriculture work together every day. Students will meet the cows, explore the barn, and watch robots in action as they feed and milk the herd. Learn how dairy farmers use robotics to keep cows healthy and comfortable while producing milk efficiently. This is a 30 minute virtual field trip targeted to K-5 students.
This virtual field trip will also be streamed live on YouTube and a recording will be available for later viewing.
Related Lessons:
Register today!
 Save the date! The 2026 School Garden Conference will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
We are currently seeking presenters to share information, lead experiences, and connect with attendees during 45-minute breakout sessions and 10–15-minute lightning talks.
If you are interested in presenting at the 2026 MN School Garden Conference, please complete the Presenter Proposal Form by December 19, 2025.
Apply to present by December 19!
Planting Seeds for Success: Grow your Farm to School program with sustainable connections to Minnesota food systems!
The Minnesota Farm to School Institute is a team-based, year-long professional learning opportunity for schools to develop skills and action plans for growing their farm to school programs. Selected teams will participate in a three-day, immersive experience in June 2026 and receive one-on-one coaching throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
School team applications are now open! The deadline to apply is Friday, February 27, 2026. View the new Farm to School Institute video and learn more information on the Farm to School Institute website.
Apply by February 27, 2026
The Institute is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Extension with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and Shelburne Farms.
December Trivia Question: What is the total number of Christmas tree producers in Minnesota? Hint: Let our friends at the Minnesota Grown program help you out!
Send your answer to sue.knott@state.mn.us. The first two people to respond with the correct answer will win an MAITC travel mug.
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