Read Across Connecticut takes place in March. Volunteers are asked to choose their own school to read to. The reader is responsible for working with the school to select a date and classroom.
2018 Connecticut Ag Literacy Event
Connecticut Agriculture in the Classroom is pleased to announce its 2018 Connecticut Ag Literacy Event. This event supports its mission of fostering awareness, understanding and appreciation of agriculture and the food, fiber, flower, forestry and fuel systems. During 2018, volunteers throughout the state will go into classrooms to read the following book and talk to students about agriculture.
National Geographic’s Bees
By Laura March
Please email agintheclassroom@ctaef.org for more information.
Thank to 2018 Volunteers!
Thank you to all of this year’s volunteer reads and our classroom hosts! After you’ve completed your reading, we encourage both volunteer readers and host teachers to complete their respective survey so that we can improve the program for future years.
2017 Connecticut Ag Literacy Event
The 2017 featured book was National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini
2016 Connecticut Ag Literacy Event
The 2016 featured book was: Seed Soil Sun written by Chris Peterson and photographs by David R. Lundquist
A Look at Connecticut Agriculture
To learn some fast facts about Connecticut agriculture, click the following link for a printable PDF: Connecticut Agriculture
White-Reinhardt Mini-Grants
The White-Reinhardt Mini-Grant Program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for grants of up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Grants are available on a competitive basis. Learn more
Connecticut AgriScience Award Grant
Sponsored By: Connecticut Corporators (formerly Trustees) to the Eastern States
Exposition (ESE) – The Big E
The Connecticut Corporators to the ESE, the Big E, award grants for special projects. Their AgriScience award for 2015 is a $500 grant awarded to an elementary school teacher to fund a special project involving agriculture in any form as part of his or her class curriculum during the school year. Teachers are encouraged to consider how they might expand the learning experience to benefit students beyond their own classroom. This $500 is payable in September to the school of the selected Grant Award winner. Learn more
Marcia Johnson Awarded Connecticut AgriScience Excellence Award
States Exposition and its Connecticut Trustees presented the second annual Connecticut AgriScience Excellence Award to Marcia Johnson, of Meriden, Conn., Monday, Sept. 22 at The Big E in West Springfield, Mass.
This award recognizes a teacher who works with outstanding effectiveness to promote the awareness of the critical role of agriculture in our lives in the classroom environment.
Johnson, a veteran 5th grade teacher, received the $500 grant to begin a garden at the Nathan Hale Elementary School in Meriden where she currently teaches. This is the second year Johnson has received this award as she is starting this project at a new school.
Donald Downes, vice chairman of the ESE Connecticut Trustees, said, “Marcia Johnson is being recognized as a teacher who works with outstanding effectiveness to promote the awareness of the critical role of agriculture in our lives in the classroom environment.”
She will be working with Principal Karen Dahn, who originally supported her first school garden. Throughout the year the students will grow vegetables and herbs and learn that without agriculture we would not have food or clothes that are made from natural fibers.
Johnson has also established a “Summer in the Garden” program where children and their families work in the garden during the summer recess. With parent involvement they are planning their first farmer’s market.
The award is open to all Connecticut public and private elementary schools. Applications will be taken January to May, 2015.
2014 Connecticut Ag Literacy Event
The 2014 featured book was The Beeman written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Valeria Cis.
White-Reinhardt Fund for Education
The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture® (AFBFA) in collaboration with the Connecticut Ag FactsAmerican Farm Bureau® Women’s Leadership Committee. It was established to honor two former chairs of that committee, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in the national effort to improve agricultural literacy. The educator’s scholarship and mini-grant program are the two components of this fund. See below for more information on each of these programs.
2014 Mini-Grant Projects
Mini-grants are offered to state and county Farm Bureaus in amounts up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 to initiate new programs or expand existing programs to additional grade levels or new subject areas. The purpose of the fund is to support projects that will expand agricultural literacy. Mini-grants are offered to state and county Farm Bureaus on a competitive basis with priority given to those programs demonstrating a need for financial support. There are two application cycles throughout the year, the first round of applications are due October 15, the second are due April 15. For more information on this program, click here.
CTAEF is partnered with and proud to support the National Ag In The Classroom consortium.
National Ag In the Classroom Resource Directory
White Reinhardt Grant 2010: Connecticut Recipients!
We are pleased to announce the application from Ashford Elementary School (Windham County), elementary school teachers, Jennifer Rioux and Carol Moran has been funded this year. Each county may apply for grants of up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 to initiate new programs or expand existing programs to additional grade levels or new subject areas. Grants are awarded on a completive basis.
The project will develop a pilot composting program at Ashford School (PK-8), in the town of Ashford. The program will enable students in fourth grade to learn how to compost, the science of composting, and the importance of engaging in this form of natural recycling. The program will help students gain an awareness of and appreciation for soil, its importance, and what contributes to improved soil. Students will apply scientific inquiry and scientific literacy. They will study and observe soil, looking for its connection to farming. They will study the connection between healthy soil, and arable land and the direct impact it has on their food. They will also learn that soil can be renewed using proper recycling techniques of certain organic materials combined in such a way that microorganisms, worms, and other compost creatures can break down the waste into a value soil amendment.
The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education honors two former AFB Women’s Leadership Committee chairwomen, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in early national efforts to expand the outreach of agricultural education and improve agricultural literacy.
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is building awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture through education.