American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture
Asking the Right Questions
By Dan Durheim   

For decades we have worked to build the foundation of knowledge about agriculture, but the question is have we done enough? Students might understand that milk comes from a cow, but do they recognize that American farmers play a vital role in our economy, are active players in environmental welfare, and work hard to produce our food, fiber and energy so that we can maintain our quality of life?   While it may seem like a never ending story we are up for the challenge.   

 

We know what we want - an educated consumer and voter, but how do we get there? How do we measure our impact?  How do we communicate the results? Maybe the better question is, what are the results we need?  It starts with defining "agriculturally literate."  

 

The Foundation has developed a framework and it all starts with defining agriculture literacy.  Our baseline definition is the intersection between agriculture and society. As learners age we focus on awareness, discovery, knowledge building and analysis.  We are calling the framework the Pillars of Agricultural Literacy. This is one example of how the Foundation is working to create a deeper understanding of agriculture.

 

I am very proud of the work of the Foundation staff and the leadership of the board. The Foundation has grown its impact over the last few years in large part thanks to your trust and persistence for the solution. Keep asking the right answers and we'll keep finding solutions.  Thank you for your continued support. 

What's New on the Farm?

A whole new world of resources on MyAmericanFarm.org  

 

This year has been a busy one for My American Farm! The popular educational website now features 17 agriculturally themed games for young learners, with two more games currently being developed for launch in 2013! Here's a quick overview of what's new on the farm:

 

  • Get your tablets ready! The My American Farm App is  available on iTunes and Google Play!  
  • Load the Lunchbox is the newest game is the newest game to join the My American Farm family. Your young learner will love helping Farmer Luis harvest his crops by swiping across the screen. After harvesting, they'll enjoy adding a nutritious food item to their lunchbox. Don't forget to check out the new eComic "Teaching Winter Wheat" - where our friend Benjamin P Farmington visits a wheat farm to discover how wheat goes from seed to sandwich 
  • An updated version of the offline kiosk program is now available. This new version contains Load the Lunchbox and additional enhancements.
  • Ag Spin N Solve has a whole new look. Pick from new categories as you and your learner spin the wheel to solve agricultural puzzles.
  • New "Power Up" energy game is set to launch in October. This exciting game is being developed thanks to a special partnership with Tri State Transmission and Generation Association.

Board Member Profile

Wenger:Foundation Encourages Much-Needed Appreciation for Agriculture 

 

As a third-generation farmer and an American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture board member, California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger appreciates efforts that emphasize the family-oriented nature of agriculture past and present, like the Foundation's Agriculture's Lasting Heritage website. But it's products like Food & Farm Facts and the accompanying educator's guides produced by the Foundation that really draw people in, Wenger said.

 

"We have to use technology, but there's plenty of good, 'old-fashioned' ways to get people's attention, according to Wenger. "We need something that will pique someone's interest, such as Food & Farm Facts, and then encourage them to dig deeper, online and elsewhere."

 

The Foundation's focus on young people is critical, but educating adults is important to the organization, too. Through the Accurate Ag Books and educational resources and other programs, the Foundation encourages teachers and students to start the conversation about agriculture, and that conversation continues at home between children and their parents.

 

"There is no age at which we stop educating consumers," Wenger said, touching on the Foundation's efforts to encourage people of all ages to develop an understanding and appreciation for food and agriculture. "You never stop trying to inform people about how their food is produced, where it comes from and some of the challenges that are involved with that."

 

Along with leading the California Farm Bureau, Wenger farms almonds and walnuts on the family farm, which includes property purchased by his grandfather in 1910. His farming operations also include sharecropping, custom farm work and walnut hulling. He has expanded his operation to include processing and marketing of almonds and walnuts through his Wood Colony Nut Co. to provide an opportunity for the fourth generation of the family to vertically integrate into the family farming operation.

 

In addition, Wenger has been active in community affairs, serving on the Salida Volunteer Fire Department, the Hart-Ransom School Board of Trustees, and the Stanislaus Land Trust and Agricultural Pavilion boards. He also sits on the board of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

 

Beyond dispelling some of the misconceptions about agriculture, Wenger hopes the Foundation's work will encourage some youngsters to consider a career in farming, ranching and related fields.

 

"Agriculture is about animals and growing things," Wenger said. "On a small scale, the Foundation offers that through the many classroom resources it provides. That's really appealing to kids."

 

To ensure the future of agriculture, we have to encourage children to carry that enthusiasm for farming and ranching and all that it entails through to adulthood.

 

"We need folks involved in agriculture on many levels-communications, legal, engineering and production," Wenger said. "We also need people to produce the raw products to grow in the field. There really is a world of opportunity in agriculture and we need to make that known."

 

 

 

Pillars of Agricultural Literacy

AFBFA Approves new Pillars 

 

We share a common passion for the agriculture industry, and regardless of our background or industry sector we believe others should understand the value of agriculture as well. But what does it mean to be agriculturally literate? The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture sought to answer this question through research and industry collaboration. The resulting "Pillars of Agricultural Literacy", which was approved by the Foundation Board of Directors in June, offers learning expectations by age group within 6 key "Pillars" of agricultural knowledge. It is a valuable asset for educators who desire to communicate consistent agricultural messages.

 

This tool was designed for people planning and managing agricultural literacy programs and initiatives; people who are starting to look at their agricultural literacy efforts from a high level, in order to develop resources that communicate consistent agricultural messages.

 

This resource offers a way to identify critical issues, pick a target age group, and look at key messages to share within this age group. People who have a vested interest in agricultural literacy are encouraged to use this as a starting point when developing resources for fairs, festivals, classrooms, on-farm events or other learning experience. For a free copy of the "Pillars of Agricultural Literacy", email [email protected] or click here.  

Funding Opportunities

Through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education  

  

Every year the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture celebrates Berta Lee White and Linda Reinhardt. These two exceptional women were pioneers in agricultural literacy and education. To celebrate their efforts the Foundation collaborates with the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee to support the White-Reinhardt F und for Education.

 

For 10 years the White-Reinhardt fund for Education has been providing mini-grants for state and county farm bureaus and teacher scholarships to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. This past year the Foundation has gone beyond offering scholarships to teachers, and now invites volunteers to apply. Applications available hereTo expand our reach through our mini-grants, we now offer fall and spring applications. Available now!

 

Here are some success stories from this past year.

 

Cook County Farm Bureau, winner of a White-Reinhardt mini-grant, put on their first-ever Passport to the Farm Camp at the Chicago High School for Ag Sciences during the week of July 22. This program invited over 40 children from Chicago to attend a four-day program. Each day featured different agriculture topics and incorporated books, activities and hands-on learning. Topics included field vs. sweet corn, corn plastic, soybeans, soil, cows, pigs, horses, chickens and goats. The workshops also addressed hydroponics, pollination, ag careers and farm machines. High school students volunteered to help the younger attendees learn about tilapia, make nutrition bracelets and plant their names using green grass seed. One evaluation filled out by parents said, "Jacob liked the animals and seeing the fish and how they fertilize the plants.  He can't stop talking about what he learned all week"

 

 

In addition to supplies and books for the camp, the White-Reinhardt mini-grant enabled Cook County Farm Bureau to provide each student with a copy an American Farm Bureau's Book of the Year award winner Seed Soil Sun by Cris Peterson. This allowed the students to bring a piece of the program home to share with their families.

Left to Right: Debra Templin, Sherry Saylor
Debra Templin works with fourth graders at Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School in Prosperity, S.C. She joined the Foundation as one of our teacher scholarship winners at the 2013 National Agriculture Conference in Minnesota. She said "I cannot thank Farm Bureau enough for making this once in a lifetime opportunity come alive for me! I hope to impact thousands of students through presentations to them and to their teachers. Then those students will teach their families, and their neighbors and the circle grows and widens!"

 

Thank you to the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee for their continued support of the White-Reinhardt Fund.

 

 

 

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MISSION STATEMENT

Building awareness, understanding  

and a positive public perception
of agriculture
through education.


NEW Food & Farm Facts


Accurate Ag Books Matched with America's Heartland Videos!


My American App for Ipad & Google Play!

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture | [email protected]
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