Promotion & Education Connection

February 2023

The purpose of the MFBF Promotion & Education program is to increase the positive perception of agriculture through agriculture literacy programming, engaging consumers, and promoting health and safety.

We love accurate ag stories!

February is "I Love to Read" month and I sure do love this year's American Farm Bureau Foundation book of the year: I Love Strawberries! I had the opportunity to meet the author at the National Ag in the Classroom conference in New York. Shannon Anderson has a great story to tell about a girl and a rabbit and the journey it takes to grow her own food. Check out more information below in the "Ag Theme" section. I challenge each county to buy this book or other ag books and donate them to your local school, library or daycares to continue to share accurate ag stories with our youth.

Students ages 11-21 will once again have the opportunity to share their accurate ag stories in the “Farmers Produce More Than Produce” video contest. This year's emphasis is on how sports relate to agriculture! Please help share this information with your local schools, FFA chapters, and 4-H clubs. The winners will have their videos shown in the Farm Bureau building during the State Fair and will also receive cash prizes.

As we continue to share our ag stories, it's important to stay up to date with the Promotion & Education Committee. A Zoom networking call will be hosted Thursday, February 9 from 7-8 p.m. Join us to chat about programming, share what your county has to offer, and ask questions. As always, please reach out to any of the committee members for help and guidance with your county events.

Tiffany Kobbermann

Promotion & Education Committee

Agriculture Literacy

An agriculturally literate person is defined as someone who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life.

February is "I Love to Read" month, and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has many resources to help with the goal of agriculture literacy.

In January, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture announced "I LOVE Strawberries" as the Book of the Year. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation has copies available for sale for $15. Contact Pam Debele at pam.debele@fbmn.org to purchase or for the list of other available books.

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom also strives for agriculture literacy for students. Check out their resources or reach out to a Regional Ag Curriculum Specialist in your area.

Accurate Ag Book List

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom

Ag Safety Awareness Program Week

Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) Week is held each year at the beginning of March to keep friends and family safe and healthy by recognizing common agricultural hazards. The goals of ASAP Week are:

To reduce the number of farm work-related injuries and deaths by increasing safety and health awareness and promoting safe practices.
To create a promotional toolkit to support safety and health in agricultural and rural communities.
To increase public awareness of the importance of safety and health in agriculture.

Watch the MFBF social media channels in early March for content to share from the P&E Committee. Check back on the sites below for more safety resources to use for your safety and health events this year.

Farm Safety

Safety & Health Network