2021 Excellence in Teaching
About Agriculture Award
Teresa Hislop, an eighth grade teacher at Ogden Preparatory Academy, has been selected as the state recipient of the Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award.

Teresa teaches a Mission to Mars class where her students execute a simulated mission to Mars. She shares, "In the Mission to Mars class, developing a sustainable agricultural option on Mars is one of the students’ primary objectives. To this end, they constructed a greenhouse and are performing agricultural related experiments.  For example, one student is combining various ratios of Martian simulated soil with various Earth soil types to see which combination is best for wheat growth.  Another student is working on a strawberry and hydroponics project. Yet another student is using a sun lamp to simulate Martian radiation levels; Mars radiation is twice that of Earth and she wants to see how increased radiation levels affect plant growth."

The Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award is a competitive award that annually recognizes an outstanding teacher who increases student awareness about agriculture and instills in students an appreciation for our food and fiber system.
2020-2021 Utah Agriculture in
the Classroom Awards
Utah Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) awarded 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 purpose of the Utah AITC Classroom Award is to encourage teachers to use agricultural concepts to teach core subject areas. It is designed to fund projects that will educate Utah Pre-K—12 students about the importance of agriculture.

Utah AITC 2020-2021 Classroom Award Recipients:
  • Molly Ortiz, Taylor Canyon Elementary, "Hatching Chicks & Aquaponics"
  • Amber Rock, Bell View Elementary, "Plant Journals: Documenting the Growth of Living Things"
  • Meaghan Porritt, Lewiston Elementary, "Plant Science & Embryology"
  • Carla van Oene, Windridge Elementary, "Planting for Science"
  • Laura Ure, Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, "Eggcellent Adventure"
  • Teresa Hislop, Ogden Preparatory Academy, "Mission to Mars"
  • Scott Thieme, Crimson View Elementary, "Across All Grades"
  • Ruth King, Cedar Ridge Elementary, "CRE 5th Grade SEEd"
  • Amy Wilkey, Parowan High School, "Aquaponics in the Special Education Classroom"
  • Cody Gull, Cedar Valley High School, "Hatching Science"
Join us for the 2021 National Conference!
Des Moines, Iowa
June 28-July 1, 2021
Iowa Event Center/Hilton Des Moines Downtown

At this time, we are planning to hold an in-person conference. We are considering a hybrid format with an in-person option for those registrants who can travel and a live-streaming option for those registrants who can't travel. We continue to keep a close eye on COVID-related travel restrictions nationwide and will let you know immediately if anything changes.

Watch for registration details here.
Four Seasons on a Farm
Did you know? Seasonal changes affect farm activities. In the winter, it is cold, the days are short, and many farms are covered in sow. Spring is a busy season full of new life on the farm. In summer, it is hot and the days are long. Autumn is harvest season for crops and some animals are sold to market.

In this K-2 lesson, students identify the characteristics of the four seasons of the year, investigate what causes seasons, and observe the affects changing seasons have on farms.
State Standards
for Utah
Kindergarten: SEEd
Strand K.1
  • Standard K.1.1
Grade 1: SEEd Strand 1.2
  • Standard 1.2.2
Farming for Energy
Did you know? In addition to growing crops and/or raising animals, some farms create electricity from wind energy.

In this 3-5 lesson, students identify renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and investigate how farms produce renewable energy.
State Standards
for Utah
Grade 4: SEEd Strand 4.2
  • Standard 4.2.3
  • Standard 4.2.4
Grade 5: SEEd 5.3
  • Standard 5.3.4
Agritourism: Extreme Farm Makeover
Did you know? Many agricultural producers are able to transform their farming operations into tourist destinations and open their doors to the public. Agritourism is an increasingly popular way for farmers and ranchers to not only increase profits, but also provide experiences that increase agricultural literacy.

Through project-based learning, students will work in groups to design an agritourism experience that will increase profits for a family-owned farm and provide agricultural literacy opportunities for community members.
State Standards
for Utah
Grade 7 College & Career Awareness: Strand 1
  • Standard 3
Grade 7 College & Career Awareness: Strand 2
  • Standard 1
  • Standard 2
  • Standard 3
  • Standard 4
  • Standard 5
Federal Lands: Ranching & Recreating
on Common Grounds
Did you know? The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, which is about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. If nearly 70% of Utah's land is owned by the federal government, where do Utah's ranchers raise sheep and cattle?

Using various forms of maps, students will analyze public lands in the western United States, describe how ranchers raise food and fiber on federally owned land, and discuss different points of view concerning public lands use and public lands grazing.
State Standards
for Utah
High School World Geography: Strand 1
  • Standard 1.3
High School US History I: Strand 6
  • Standard 6.4
Delivering content online? These free student-ready eLearning content resources are what you need to contextualize science, social studies, and nutrition content with active learning strategies. These lesson plans are already adapted for a student audience and can can be dropped into your online platform (Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.) Be sure to follow the Curriculum Matrix page for eLearning updates.
Help us continue providing programs and materials that promote awareness and understanding of agriculture among Utah's educators and students.