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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 January featured teacher is Ms. Heather More.
Heather More, a 4th grade teacher at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary School, brings agriculture into her classroom to encourage students to see real-world connections with the community around them.
A few of Heather's Favorite Lessons include:
To learn more about Ms. More, visit our Featured Teachers webpage.
 When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for a virtual field trip hosted by the Hewitt family of Maple Wood Farms near Faribault, MN! We'll meet their sheep and see how newborn lambs are cared for. Sara Hewitt will guide us through the sheep barn and share a behind-the-scenes look at how their sheep are raised for wool and meat.
This is a 30-min 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.
Register today!
 Join us on Zoom for an exciting look into hatching eggs in your classroom with Carrie Allord, the 2024 National Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher Award Winner.
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
What: How to secure fertilized eggs, what to do with the chicks once they hatch, equipment and supply recommendations, and curriculum connections will be shared. If you have thought about hatching chicks with your students but are not sure how to be successful, this is the PD session for you!
Register today!
2026 Minnesota School Garden Conference
When: March 13, 2026, 8:00 am- 4:00 pm
Where: University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
School gardens offer a unique, practical way for students to achieve academic goals, engage with community partners, explore agriculture and healthy eating, and connect with the environment. Whether you're new to school gardens or experienced, come join us in March to learn strategies for building, maintaining, and engaging learners in a successful school garden.
What to expect:
- 45 minute Breakout Sessions
- 10-15 minute Lightning Talks
- Hands-on sessions at Farm at the Arb
- Lunch
- School Garden Week Announcement
Who should attend?
- Teachers and educators
- Administrators or other school staff
- School garden volunteers
- Anyone interested in youth gardening programs
Register today!
 Save the date! The first-ever Growing Minds Conference will be held July 27-28 at St. Paul College! Join us for a dynamic professional development experience, where K-12 educators like you will explore innovative ways to bring plants and animals, food, and agriculture into your classroom. Organized by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Programs
We are currently seeking presenters to share information, lead experiences, and connect with attendees during 50-minute breakout sessions and 20-minute mini-sessions.
If you are interested in presenting at the 2026 Growing Minds Conference, please complete the Presenter Proposal Form by February 20, 2026.
January Trivia Question: What percent of Minnesota farms are family owned and/or operated?
Send your answer to sue.knott@state.mn.us. The first two people to respond with the correct answer will win a MAITC reusable bag.
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