How has agriculture and the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Program impacted your students and instruction?

I have used the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom program to enhance my students' understanding of the agricultural products produced in Minnesota in addition to the products that are produced locally. We are the home of the Hormel Foods Corporation, so students are aware of the agricultural materials used by Hormel as well as the products produced by Hormel. However they are not aware of the location of other agricultural products such as poultry, sugar beets, dairies, etc. in Minnesota. I use the  MAITC maps and activities to provide my students with local examples of where agricultural products are produced that they use on a daily basis.

What advice do you have for other teachers on using agriculture in their curriculum?

I would suggest that they focus on the products their students interact with the most and then identify local producers of these products. This would provide students with a connection to agriculture and make the study of agriculture more meaningful for them.

Why do you believe it is important for our students to be agriculturally literate and aware in today's society?

Even though many of our students have never been on a farm or produced