Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! Here at Utah Agriculture in the Classroom, we're still working to provide teachers with standards-based curriculum, hands-on activities, and professional development opportunities. Utah AITC stayed busy this summer attending national conferences and presenting at various professional development workshops for Utah teachers. 

Utah AITC kicked off the summer by hosting a three-day Farm-to-Fork Experience in Logan, Utah, for K-12 Utah teachers. This summer institute provided teachers with hands-on experiences and inservice training. We enjoyed touring and visiting various agricultural businesses and industries in Cache Valley including Central Milling, Zollinger's Fruit and Tree Farm, Utah State University Caine Dairy, and USU's Extension Community Gardens. Teachers found numerous ways to infuse their existing curriculum with the depth and real-world relevance that food and agriculture can bring to classroom learning experiences.
In June, our Utah AITC team, seven Utah teachers, and two women's committee members from Utah Farm Bureau attended the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Orlando, Florida. We attended various hands-on workshops presented by teachers from all over the United States. Our own Melody Thieme, who teaches 4th grade at Crimson View Elementary, was recognized as one of eight National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award recipients. Mark your calendars and join us next year at the National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 24-27, 2024.

This school year, we encourage you to get involved by attending conferences and workshops, applying for grants, scholarships, and awards, and finding new ways to integrate agriculture into your existing curriculum. We hope you have a fun year!

~ Denise, Bekka, Carrie, and Kaitlyn
Mark your calendars for June 24-27, 2024, and join us at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City! Watch for conference updates and registration information here.
National Agriculture in the Classroom is seeking workshop proposals for the 2024 NAITC Conference "Agriculture Elevated" in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
Proposals must demonstrate how the workshop uses agricultural concepts to meet the National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) and teach reading, writing, math, nutrition, science, STEM, social studies and other subject areas. Proposals also must reach early elementary (grades pre-kindergarten-2), upper elementary (grades 3-5), middle school (grades 6-8), high school (9-12) or all grades. The main workshop presenter of accepted proposals will receive a discount off the early-bird conference registration rate.
 
The selection committee is motivated to develop an agenda of workshops that meet a wide variety of grade levels, subject areas, and agriculture topics. Suggestions for workshop themes include: 
  • Animal science and husbandry (pigs, beef cattle, dairy cows, chickens/eggs, sheep, trout, bees)
  • Plant science (corn, wheat, safflower, barley, hay, tart cherries)
  • Renewable energy (ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, wind, solar)
  • Conservation (water use, soil health, pollinators, rangeland)
  • Biotechnology (GMOs, cross-breeding, pesticides, nutrition quality)

The deadline for submissions is October 6, 2023. Presenters will be notified in January of the status of their submission.
APPLY NOW! Utah Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is awarding ten $500 awards to Utah pre-kindergarten through 12th grade core education teachers whose innovative classroom projects use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, healthy lifestyles, science, or social studies. The deadline for award applications is October 6, 2023, at midnight. All applicants will be notified of award status by email on or before October 13, 2023. The purpose of the Utah AITC Classroom Award is to encourage teachers to use agricultural concepts to teach core subject areas. This award is designed to fund projects that will educate Utah Pre-K-12 students about the importance of agriculture. Only fully completed applications will be considered.
The $500 classroom award can be used to purchase materials for various agricultural literacy projects including (but not limited to) building supplies for garden boxes, grow towers, greenhouse materials, classroom kits from the AgClassroom Store, brooding supplies, field trip expenses, aquaponics supplies, hydroponic supplies, seeds, soil, and much more.
If you have any questions about the classroom award, please contact Bekka Israelsen at (435) 797-1833 or bekka.israelsen@usu.edu.
What is Harvest of the Season?
Harvest of the Season is a fun farm-to-fork promotional program. Educational resources are provided for classrooms, gardens and kitchens that showcase seasonal Utah-grown foods.

Why should you participate in Harvest of the Season?
Harvest of the Season increases children's exposure to and consumption of seasonal Utah-grown goods, along with their knowledge of Utah agriculture. Harvest of the Season also helps support small, local farms by increasing their institutional customer base. With Harvest of the Season, children, farmers, and communities all benefit!