New York Agriculture in the Classroom is excited to announce Food, Land, and People trainings for May. These will be held May 13 and 15, 2014 from 6:00-8:30 pm in three locations: Livingston County, Wayne County, and Ulster County. Participate and receive curriculum, lesson plans, 5 hours of professional development credit, and many ideas. Learn more about Food, Land, and People.

To register for:

Livingston County, contact:

Mary Ann Scharmberg; mas327@cornell.edu

Wayne County, contact:

Margaret Boone; mab567@cornell.edu

Ulster County: register here. 

 If you were a teacher involved in Agricultural Literacy Week, please remember to complete our survey about your classroom experience and your thoughts on the 2014 program. Completing the survey enters you for a chance to win a prize pack from New York Agriculture in the Classroom! Complete the survey today!

 Interested in attending the 2014 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference? The conference showcases resources for educators and others and is being held June 23-27, 2014 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Register today! Visit the National Agriculture in the Classroom site to learn more about the conference. For those teachers who do attend, please contact NYAITC to inquire about transportation and housing assistance.

The Poughkeepsie Farm Project will be hosting a summer institute for educators interested in integrating gardens into their curriculum. The workshop will be three days of hands-on learning and will count for twenty one hours of professional development credit. It will be held August 6-8, 2014 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Learn more about the workshop or register today.

Tune into the discussion about local food purchasing for school districts. Each second and fourth Thursday of the month starting in January and running through July, USDA Farm to School will be airing webinars for those interested in learning more. More information about how and when to register is posted here.

The Dairy Birthing Center will be returning to the New York State Fair this year! A popular attraction during its first year last year, the birthing center will be housed in a bigger tent with new and exciting additions this year. Volunteers will be needed! If you are interested in volunteering, contact Jessica Ziehm at jessica@nyanimalag.org. Visit the New York Animal Agriculture site to learn more.

This book is the story of a young girl who, with her grandfather, grows a garden for her ill grandmother. The garden is special because it comes alive with pollinators more at night than during the day. Learn about nocturnal pollinators and how this granddaughter was able to do something special for her Nana. Find more here.

This book covers a basic idea of genetics as it explores how Gregor Mendel discovered the concepts of traits and inheritance when studying peas. Start an easy-to-understand conversation about science and genetics in your classroom with this interesting book. Learn more or buy the book here.

Michelle Obama's White House Garden has grown to be well known as groups of youth from all over the country visit the garden and get involved in the Let's Move initiative. You too can follow suit by using this gardening guide for some pointers on how to start your own school, community, or personal garden!

 Looking to start a school garden? Annie's offers grants to schools and educational programs for those interested in building school gardens. Whether your school is just getting started or would like funds to continue to grow your existing garden, you may apply. This year's applications are due by June 2nd, so apply today! Learn more about the program and find out how to apply here.

Do you know what the State Snack is? Fourth grade students from Byron-Bergen wrote to senator Michael Ranzenhofer in attempts to make yogurt the official snack of New York State. Read more about the progress the bill has made and about the benefits yogurt has in New York in this article.

• Tune in to these webinars about bringing local foods to school districts
• Webinars held at 2 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of the month by USDA Farm to School

• 6:00-8:30 pm on both days in each respective location
• Three locations: Livingston County, Wayne County, and Ulster County
• See 'News' for information about registering

• Hosted in Blossvale, NY at McConnellsville Golf Club
• Support by registering to play or by getting your FFA chapter involved by donating a penny auction item 
• Learn more to get involved 

• Hosted in Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Learn more and register for the conference here

• Being held in Poughkeepsie, NY
• Workshops for educators wanting to integrate gardens into their curriculum
• Learn more or register today.

  

 Food, Land, and People Distance Training

  

Agricultural Literacy Week Coordinator Reminder

  

NAITC Conference 

New York State FFA Convention - May 8-10

  

Mother's Day - May 11

  

Memorial Day - May 26

  

 

      

There are over 100,000  species responsible for pollination. More interesting is that over 1,000 of those species are vertebrates.