Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Hosts Summer Trainings

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom program will offer three virtual and two in-person summer trainings for teachers, volunteers, home school parents, 4-H and FFA leaders, and others interested in learning about the program's educational resources.

UW-Biotrek Science Virtual Workshop will be on Thursday, June 17, 9-11 a.m. via Zoom. The presenter is Liz Jesse, Biotechnology Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center. Jesse will conduct Kitchen Science Savvy which involves coaching youth to develop their science experimentation skills in response to some puzzle questions, leading off with "Which Makes Better Bubbles, Skim Milk or Whole?" The training will also take a virtual tour of the UW Biotechnology Center as a part of this workshop.

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Virtual Workshop will be on Wednesday, June 23, 9-11 a.m. via Zoom. The presenters are Rich Henningfeld, Julia Recko, Beth Schaefer and Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes.

Rick Henningfeld brings a strong background in science and agriculture and over 20 years of learning design, facilitation, training and speaking experience to the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture as the Education Director. Rick will explore resources available through the Purple Plow STEM Challenge and My American Farm platform. Julia Recko, Education Outreach Director, has been with American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for over 12 years. Julia will cover what makes a good, accurate agriculture book and what is new with Feeding Minds Press.

Beth Schaefer works to connect local dairy promotion volunteers with resources and funding that is available through the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the dairy check-off for Wisconsin. She will be sharing the latest dairy education resources and programs from the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin that will help students connect delicious dairy from the family farm to the dinner table. New program updates will include a new virtual farm tour and the extremely popular new program, Adopt-a-Calf. Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes will be sharing the virtual farm tour that Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin partnered with her and her family on as well as the opportunities to invite Alice to schools and classrooms.

Journey 2050 Virtual Workshop will be on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 9-11 a.m. via Zoom. The presenter will be Tessa Matuszak. Tessa is the Program Manager for National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. This free, cross-curricular program engages students in discussions about sustainably feeding the world. Functional in a virtual or in-person setting, the seven-level game and program meets educational standards for science, geography, social studies, STEM, career and technical education, and agriculture classes.

The first Back to School Kick-Off at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center will be in-person on Wednesday, Aug. 18, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The training will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, 7001 Gass Lake Road, Manitowoc Presenters for the kick-off include Abigail Martin and Darlene Arneson.

Kick-off the school year with an Ag in the Classroom informational meeting at Farm Wisconsin. Begin and end the day viewing the exhibits at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. Darlene will cover the 2021-2022 school year calendar, introduce the new Book of the Year and essay contest, grants, highlight new resources, tour the websites and discuss participant needs for the school year. Abigail will share information about FWDC and provide a tour of the center.

The second in-person Back to School Kick-Off will be the at Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire on Tuesday, Aug. 24, beginning with registration at 3 p.m. Presenters include Darlene Arneson and Museum Education Directors Karen Jacobson

Darlene will cover the 2021-2022 school year calendar, introduce the new Book of the Year and essay contest, grants, highlight new resources, tour the websites and discuss participant needs for the school year. Karen was an elementary school teacher in Chippewa Falls for six years prior to filling the Museum Educator position in 2003. Karen will be sharing a wide range of agriculture-related, educational resources and materials with audience members. These will include both virtual and in-person possibilities, a traveling exhibition, themed history kits, books, and more. Participants can then tour the museum on their own after the presentations.