AITC-C NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible year we’ve had. This year, we inspired curiosity and sparked learning in classrooms across Canada, connecting students to the fascinating world of agriculture. 

We hosted two seasons of the Great Canadian Farm Tour, making 21 stops across the country, including our inaugural autumn season and first-ever visit to the Northwest Territories! We also launched Mission Explorium, a deserted island adventure that engaged more than 280 classes from coast to coast in hands-on, cross-curricular activities. 

In November, we celebrated Canada Career Month with thinkAG, showcasing the vast opportunities within agriculture and food. Alongside our 10 member organizations, we highlighted inspiring industry professionals, shared career-focused videos and brought interactive tools like the Career Case game into classrooms.  

To top it off, we celebrated winning a Best of CAMA 2024 award for our ad featured in Top Crop Manager and other Annex Media publications. 

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to keep building on these successes and create even more impactful experiences. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year!

Grade 6 to 8 classrooms across Canada are invited to join Mission Explorium, a thrilling national competition this February! Students will tackle real-world challenges as they build a sustainable society on a fictional deserted island, guided by knowledgeable birds and a zany anthropologist. On the adventure, students will explore ecosystems, agriculture, food systems and culture—all while competing with classrooms nationwide.

The program features interactive videos, hands-on activities and leaderboards to keep students engaged and motivated. Accessible and flexible, it’s designed to fit seamlessly into any classroom.

Regional winners will advance to the finals in April, where they’ll compete for the National Champion title and an innovative Plantaform Indoor Garden, generously donated by Plantaform. This prize brings STEM learning to life with cutting-edge fog technology that grows fresh greens year-round. Don't miss your chance to join the adventure! The competition begins on February 17.

Thank you to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for supporting this program!

Season 4 of the Great Canadian Farm Tour was an incredible journey across Canada, showcasing the stories, innovation and dedication behind our agriculture and food systems. From sea buckthorn in New Brunswick to pumpkin patches in Newfoundland, cranberries in British Columbia, and even greenhouse apples in the Northwest Territories, students explored the rich diversity of Canadian agriculture.

After beginning in October, the season wrapped up on December 5 with a look at ice cream production in Manitoba. Over the course of the tour, classrooms across the country connected virtually with real farmers, diving into topics like sustainability, technology and food production.

Perfect for kindergarten to Grade 6, the bilingual tours included digital activity books to deepen the learning experience. If you missed any stops, you can rewatch all the tours anytime on our YouTube channel.

Thank you to Farm Credit Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for supporting this program. Together, we’ve inspired students to explore and appreciate the vital role agriculture plays in their lives.

Take an immersive farm tour with FarmFood360° in the Classroom, developed in partnership with Farm & Food Care Ontario! These virtual e-learning modules bring the farm to you, allowing students to visit real Canadian farms, hear directly from farmers and test their knowledge with interactive quizzes. Explore the newest tours: the Berry Tour, where you’ll discover a fifth-generation berry farm in Ontario, and the Dairy Tour, showcasing a Canadian dairy farm where cows decide when to be milked. Both tours are available in English and French, making them perfect for learning at home or in the classroom. 

Learn more about the resource at the AITC Resource Library. 

AITC-C's thinkAG Manager, Kalysha Hanrahan, attended the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference held in Niagara Falls, ON in November. The event brought together women from all corners of the agricultural industry, providing a platform to share knowledge, build networks and inspire change.

As part of her participation, Kalysha hosted an engaging breakfast session that fostered dialogue between industry stakeholders and students. She highlighted AITC-C's extensive suite of resources, programs and initiatives designed to ignite curiosity and build awareness about careers in agriculture. From interactive tools to innovative curriculum-based programs, Kalysha demonstrated how AITC-C is empowering the next generation to see agriculture as an exciting and vital industry.

Using Mentimeter, Kalysha posed thought-provoking questions to the audience, sparking a lively discussion on the future of agricultural education. Participants shared insights on current challenges, including the growing labour shortage, and brainstormed actionable strategies to address these issues. Ideas ranged from enhancing agricultural literacy in schools to creating mentorship programs and increasing diversity in the workforce.

Kalysha's session emphasized the importance of collaboration in shaping a sustainable future for agriculture. By connecting stakeholders and students, she showcased the potential of shared efforts to inspire youth and bridge the talent gap in the industry. AITC-C remains committed to equipping educators, engaging students and strengthening partnerships to ensure a thriving future for Canadian agriculture.

Together, we can cultivate solutions and nurture a resilient agricultural community.

This March, join the celebration of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) and explore the people, places and processes behind the food we eat. With engaging classroom resources, interactive activities and inspiring stories, CALM connects students to the vibrant world of Canadian agriculture. Whether you’re a teacher or a volunteer, there’s something for everyone to explore and enjoy!

AITC-C is proud to work alongside 10 provincial members who are the delivery network to Canadian educators and schools. 

Together, we form a cross-country team dedicated to delivering programs, resources, and initiatives that engage, empower, and inspire with accurate, balanced and current information about agriculture and food.