Outstanding Teacher Award
2024 Outstanding Teacher Award Application is Now Open
Each year, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation recognize a Wisconsin teacher or a teaching team for their achievements in teaching students the importance of agriculture while integrating agricultural concepts across the curriculum.
Eligible Candidates
Certified teachers currently engaged in classroom instruction at the pre-K through 12 levels. Applications may be from an individual teacher or a teaching team. Ideal applicants are integrating agricultural concepts into non-agricultural curricula. Past state winners and certified agriculture education instructors are not eligible.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal applicants utilize agricultural information and/or materials within the classroom curriculum to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Learning activities may include, but are not limited to, understanding agriculture’s impact on personal lives, our national heritage, the environment, national security and the economy. Innovative and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged. A panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education, and Agriculture in the Classroom will evaluate all nominations.
Judging Criteria
- Agriculture Literacy Integration (20 points): How are you currently integrating agriculture into your curriculum? If possible, provide specific examples of agriculturally-focused lessons, activities, and experiences, and the academic subjects and standards they support.
- Impact (15 points): How has integrating agriculture into your curriculum and classroom impacted you and students' academic success and/or classroom culture?
- Inspiration (5 points): How are you inspiring/encouraging your colleagues and other educators to utilize agriculture as a teaching tool?
- Supporting Materials (0): Up to 5 files can be uploaded to support the application.
- Award Honors: The state winner(s) will receive a plaque given in a classroom presentation, opportunity to serve as a member of the 2025-2026 Educator Ambassador Team and attend the 2025 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis, MN; receive an Agriculture in the Classroom SWAG Bag. The state winner(s) will represent Wisconsin as the state’s nominee for the 2026 Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award Program presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ag in the Classroom program. Upon completion of the Exellence in Teaching about Agricutlure Award application, the winner will receive $1500 towards registration and travel to the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference to be held in the Easter Region.
Awardees will be formally recognized through press releases, in Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom e-newsletter, on Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom website and social media, and WFBF Rural Route member magazine.
For questions about Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Educator Award, please contact Beth Schaefer, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator, at 608-828-5644, or [email protected]. Thank you for applying and good luck!
2023 Outstanding Educator of the Year
Emily Kamps
A third-grade educator at Fennimore Elementary in Fennimore, is the 2023 Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher.
Emily Kamps, 2023 Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher
Emily Kamps has been named the 2023 Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher. Kamps is a third-grade educator at Fennimore Elementary in Fennimore.
The Outstanding Teacher Award honors K-12 educators working to enhance student learning and achievement in core subjects while increasing student awareness and understanding of the important role agriculture plays in students' daily lives.
“I believe it is important for all students to be agriculturally literate because they will eventually become consumers,” stated Emily in her application. “Being agriculturally literate will allow these future consumers to make more informed decisions on food, goods, jobs, the environment, the economy and their health.”
For the three years, Kamps has integrated agricultural literacy into her classroom by integrating agriculture topics into weekly themes – including “Wisconsin Wednesdays.” Kamps has integrated agriculture into almost every core subject allowing her students to improve their reading, writing and problem-solving skills through partnerships with Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, Adopt-A-Cow classroom program, and local farms and agri-businesses.
Her classroom success has spilled into summer school, as Kamps developed two new courses for K-8 students to explore agriculture through careers, STEM and literature.
Kamps hopes these extra enrichment courses will build student awareness of the diverse opportunities for careers in agriculture as well as increase the numbers of students who go on to enroll in agriculture education courses.
“Seeing what my students learn through my agriculture incorporation is very rewarding. It encourages me to do more and find new ways to make that learning fun and educational,” said Kamps. “ I hope that some of my students will decide on the agriculture field because of what they learned while in my classroom.”
Kamps received a plaque and prize packaged valued at over $1,700 and will represent Wisconsin as the state's nominee for the Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award Program presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Ag in the Classroom program.