Agriculture industry volunteers are encouraged to nominate general education teachers in Florida who use agricultural concepts in their language arts, math, science and social studies classes for Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's 2010 Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award.
   
The deadline for nominations is Friday Dec. 18, 2009. One winner each is selected for elementary, middle school, agriscience middle school and high school. An overall winner is selected from the four and competes for the National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. Winners receive all expenses paid trips to the Florida State Teacher and Volunteer Workshop June 16-19, 2010 at the TradeWinds on St. Petersburg Beach and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference June 24-26, 2010 in Baltimore. Visit Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's website for a nomination form.

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. named a Dade County Farm Bureau member and a Hillsborough County program for special needs students its Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Volunteer Program of the Year for 2009, respectively.

The Gainesville-based non-profit organization named Dade County Farm Bureau member Jessica Borek its Outstanding Volunteer of the Year and Hillsborough County special education program "Ag-Abilities" it Outstanding Volunteer Program of the Year.
  
"We depend on individuals and programs around the state to help educate teachers and students about the importance of Florida agriculture and Jessica Borek and Ag-Abilities are prime examples of how successful volunteers can be in their efforts to reach out," said Vina Jean Banks, Chairman and Florida Beef Council Representative for Florida Agriculture in the Classroom and Director of Agribusiness for the Florida State Fair in Tampa.

Borek and Ag-Abilities coordinator, Judi Whitson of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, were honored for their efforts at Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's 2009 State Teacher and Volunteer Workshop "Catching the Wave of Florida Agriculture Education" earlier this summer in Daytona Beach.

Borek donates time at the Dade County Farm Bureau's Annual Barbecue and "Fun" Raiser for the Kids Corral area, and distributes agriculture information and conducts Florida Agriculture in the Classroom activities at the Miami-Dade International Agriculture and Cattle Show. She also volunteers to read for Florida Agriculture Literacy Day and participate in Farm City Week each year.

She served as the Dade Agri-Council president for two years, and continues to help the organization with fund raising. Borek and her family farm in the Miami-Dade County area and grow corn, tomatoes, beans, eggplant and okra.

Hillsborough County's "Ag-Abilities" program reaches dozens of special needs students who are unable to compete in traditional FFA and agriculture events because of their disabilities. About 70 students participated in Ag-Abilities in 2009, taking part in competitions such as agriculture tools identification, plant identification and food identification. They also drove a tractor through an obstacle course during the event.

About 40 volunteers help make Ag-Abilities possible each year. Participating organizations include Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, Hillsborough County Parks Department, the Hillsborough County Extension Office and the Hillsborough County School Board.

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom is getting technical with a Facebook page, Twitter account and an online blog.
       
Each of these tools will keep followers current on the latest Florida Agriculture in the Classroom happenings, namely workshop and grant opportunity announcements, among other programs.

Followers are encouraged to post their thoughts and join in on any discussions. To follow or become a fan, visit the home page of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's website www.agtag.org 
 

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom named Vina Jean Banks, representative of the Florida Beef Council and director of agribusiness for the Florida State Fair, its new chairman. She succeeds Cara Martin, former assistant director of government and community affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau, who ended her two-year term earlier this year.

Banks has served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Florida Federation of Fairs and Agriculture Committee for three years, and is currently serving as advisor to that committee. She has also been instrumental in the growth of the Hillsborough County Agriculture in the Classroom program.

She has played an active role in her local FFA Chapters and 4-H Clubs and was a 4-H club leader for more than 10 years.  Banks has been a member of the Florida Cattlewomen Association and Hillsborough County Cattlewomen associate for over 28 years and has served in numerous offices, including president, of both organizations.

Serving as the representative of the Florida Beef Council, she will continue to help nurture the Florida agriculture industry by continuing the efforts of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom to educate teachers and students alike about its importance.

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom and Marion County 4-H have developed a nutritional activity newspaper called "Growing Up Healthy with Food from Florida" for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. Free classroom sets are available to Florida teachers and agriculture industry volunteers. To order copies, please visit Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's website.

Enjoy making these Indian corn napkin rings this fall. They'll add some color to any Thanksgiving table.

Indian Corn Napkin Rings