Agriculture in the Classroom

Stored: Agriculture in the Classroom

Agriculture in the Classroom Type: Educational Program Parent organization: Department of Agriculture Top organization: Department of Agriculture Employees: Executive: Program Director Budget: Address: 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250 Website: https://www.agclassroom.org/ Creation Legislation: Wikipedia: Agriculture in the Classroom

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Mission Boost ag literacy in K-12 with resources & programs, linking classrooms to agriculture to show its role in food, fiber, & well-being

Services Curriculum Development; Teacher Training; Student Outreach; Resource Provision

Regulations

Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. Its goal is to help students gain greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies. AITC raises agricultural literacy by helping students understand the farm sources of their food, fabric and flowers.

It' is a USDA-coordinated initiative that partners with state programs, reaching nearly 5 million students and 60,000 teachers annually across 50 states and territories, to integrate agriculture into K-12 education through lesson plans, virtual field trips, and hands-on learning experiences.

The program is carried out in each state, according to state needs and interests, by individuals representing farm organizations, agribusiness, education and government.

The USDA supports the state organizations by:

• helping to develop Agriculture in the Classroom programs,
• acting as a central clearinghouse for materials and information,
• encouraging USDA agencies to assist in the state programs, and
• coordinating with national organizations to promote the goal of an increased awareness of agriculture among the nation's students.

Official Site

History

Throughout much of the history of the United States, agriculture and education have been closely related. During the decades when most Americans lived on farms or in small towns, students often did farm chores before and after school. The school year was determined by planting, cultivating and harvesting schedules. Old school books are full of agricultural references and examples because farming and farm animals were a familiar part of nearly every child's life.

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In the 1920s, 30s and 40s, as the farm population shrank and agricultural emphasis decreased in school books and educational materials, educators focused on agriculture as an occupational specialty, rather than an integral part of every student's life. Agriculture education was mainly offered to those few students wanting to make a career of agriculture.

During this period, a small nucleus of educators and others persistently pushed for more agriculture in education. They recognized the interlocking role of farming and food and fiber production with environmental quality, including wildlife habitat, clean water, and the preservation and improvement of forests. They kept interest in agriculture and the environment alive during a period when interest by the public as a whole was decreasing.

During the 1960s and 70s, as experienced agriculture, conservation, and forestry organizations realized the need for quality material, many excellent films, literature, and classroom aids were financed and produced by businesses, foundations, nonprofit groups and associations, as well as state and federal agencies. There was, however, little coordination of effort or exchange of ideas among the groups and no central point for national coordination.

In 1981, at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives of agricultural groups and educators came to a meeting in Washington, D.C., to discuss agricultural literacy. A national task force was selected from this group. Representation came from agriculture, business, education, and governmental agencies, some of whom were already conducting educational programs in agriculture.

This new task force recommended that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be the coordinator and that it would sponsor regional meetings to help states organize their own programs. They also urged the Department to encourage the support of other national groups.

As a result, in 1981, the USDA established Agriculture in the Classroom, which has the endorsement of all living former Secretaries of Agriculture, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the National Conference of States Legislatures, most of the Governors of the States, and the major agricultural organizations and commodity groups. Significant progress has been made through these partnerships of agriculture, business, education, government and dedicated volunteers.

The late Dr. Norman Borlaug, a Nobel prize Laureate, wanted to make it known prior to his death in September 2009 that it was hard for him to stomach the disconnection American students in public education have with agriculture. In a message to Agriculture in the Classroom teachers, Dr. Borlaug encourages the educators that are in public and private schools to develop many more courses on agriculture and food production and also to make it compulsory for students to be enrolled in these classes. Borlaug also takes time to mention that only four percent of children in the industrialized countries and less than two percent in the United States are directly connected to a production-based agriculture farming operation.

Currently, the program is discovering Christmas trees as shown on its website.

Program Delivery

The USDA's national AITC staff consists of a Team Leader, a National Program Leader, a Program Specialist, and a Program Assistant. The staff reports to the Deputy Administrator, Science and Education Resources Development, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

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Each state organization addresses agriculture education in a way best suited to its own needs. In some cases, an all-volunteer network is responsible for teacher education and materials distribution. States have formed educational nonprofit organizations, which have the benefit of a tax-deductible status. In some states, leadership is provided through the departments of education, agriculture or other government agencies; in other states, through agriculture organizations or commodity groups, some through universities or colleges, and in some cases, through the dedicated efforts of one or two individuals.

Some state organizations have employed full and/or part-time persons to support Agriculture in the Classroom. A few states have reassigned government agency personnel to lead the AITC efforts. There is no one best method to administer AITC but the combined efforts of volunteers and professional staff are vital ingredients for success.

Regardless of the structure, AITC has advanced because of a cooperative spirit among the participants. There is an AITC presence in every state and territory. Representatives from Canada have attended many USDA-sponsored AITC national conferences and have hosted national conferences in Canada. Requests for information about AITC come from many countries around the world and from other organizations wanting to learn how to deliver their programs with equal success.

The strength of AITC comes from its grassroots organization and the fact that educators are very much a part of the movement. Giant strides have been made since 1981. AITC is regarded as a refreshing and flexible educational program designed to supplement and enhance the teacher's existing curriculum.

People use AITC's eLearning resources in this organization to engage the students on the program.

Materials

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Learning materials to support the AITC program are produced by state AITC programs, outside vendors, and the USDA. Many of these are cataloged or accessible from the main AITC website. Examples include the "Growing a Nation" program and "Understanding Avian Influenza." Interactive learning tools and a bimonthly E-zine are also available on the AITC website.

Conferences

Each year, the National AITC Consortium and the US Department of Agriculture host a conference designed to help teacher, volunteers, state and local coordinators and others learn more about raising students' agricultural literacy. Special speakers, workshops, tours and other special events focus on organizing efforts to enhance the community's knowledge of the sources of their food and fiber.

Volunteering

AITC programs across the country welcome volunteers to help their efforts. Volunteers may distribute materials, organize events, read books to students, coordinate contests and conduct a variety of other tasks. Each state has an AITC coordinator.

Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium

The national Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium is the organization of state AITC programs and professional association of state AITC representatives, whose purpose is to assume and maintain an active national role in promoting agricultural literacy programs by providing leadership and a professional network for state AITC Programs and work to insure continuity of the AITC at USDA.

The AITC Consortium co-sponsors the annual National AITC Conference, coordinates a teacher award program, and helps manage grant programs. It also lobbies on behalf of agricultural literacy and acts as the liaison between AITC and other organizations, businesses and others interested in promoting agricultural literacy. It also compiles data and reports about agricultural literacy.

External links

• Agriculture in the Classroom official website

Mission

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Program strives to enhance students’ and educators’ understanding of agriculture’s critical role in providing food, clothing, shelter, and fuel, while linking it to core subjects like science, math, and social studies. By fostering agricultural literacy, it aims to create informed citizens who support sustainable agricultural policies and appreciate the industry’s economic and environmental significance, reaching approximately 2.7 million students directly in 2023 via state efforts.

Parent organization

The AITC operates under the United States Department of Agriculture, specifically within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which oversees its national coordination and funding support to state programs.

Legislation

The AITC was not established by specific legislation but evolved in the early 1980s as a grassroots effort under USDA’s authority, formalized through NIFA’s mission under the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, with national coordination solidified by 1985.

Partners

• State AITC programs (e.g., Texas, Iowa, California) for local implementation
• National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization for resource development
• Agricultural organizations like Farm Bureau and 4-H for outreach

Number of employees

The exact number of employees is not centrally reported, as AITC operates through a network of state programs with varying staff sizes, supported by USDA personnel and 14,367 volunteer educators impacted in 2023.

Organization structure

AITC is a federated program with national oversight and state-level execution:

Leader

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Program is overseen by a Program Director within USDA’s NIFA.

Divisions

The divisions include:

• National Coordination Team for curriculum and strategy.
• State Programs for regional implementation (50 states/territories).
• Curriculum Development Team for lesson plans and resources.

List of programs

• Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix
• Virtual Field Trips
• National Agriculture Literacy Outcomes (NALOs)

Last total enacted budget

The specific budget for AITC is not publicly isolated for FY 2024; it’s funded within NIFA’s broader appropriations (e.g., $1.7 billion in FY 2023), with state programs leveraging additional local and private funds.

Staff

AITC’s staffing includes USDA coordinators, state program directors, educators, and volunteers (14,367 in 2023), with no centralized count due to its distributed model across states and territories.

Funding

Since the 1980s, AITC has been funded through USDA appropriations via NIFA, supplemented by state contributions, grants, and partnerships with agricultural organizations, supporting its reach to nearly 5 million students annually.

Services provided

AITC develops and distributes free, standards-aligned lesson plans, provides teacher training through workshops and conferences, engages students with farm tours and virtual field trips, and offers resources like the Curriculum Matrix to integrate agriculture into K-12 education.

Regulations overseen

AITC does not oversee regulations but aligns with USDA educational goals and state academic standards to ensure program relevance.

Headquarters address

1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250

History

Initiated in the early 1980s by educators and agriculturalists, AITC emerged as a grassroots response to declining agricultural awareness amid urbanization. Coordinated nationally by USDA since 1985, it grew with the establishment of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization in 1981, formalized under NIFA, and now spans all 50 states, reaching millions with support from the 2012 National Center for Agricultural Literacy at Utah State University.

Related

See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:

• United States Department of Agriculture
• National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• 4-H

External links

• Official Website
• wikipedia:Agriculture in the Classroom
• NIFA AITC Overview