My association with Agriculture in the Classroom is truly unique in that I am able to see the benefits of agriculture education programs through improvements in students' academic abilities and through their evolving relationship with fruits and vegetables. It's true that the more connected students feel to their food source the more likely they will be to actually eat the tomatoes, broccoli, turnips, or whatever it is that they've had a hand in growing.
I have incorporated agriculture literacy and education into my career path over the past 30 years from my days as a high school teacher and college professor, to a public relations director for a California commodity board, to manager of the 5 A Day Campaign, and now at the California Department of Education. My husband is from a dairy farm so, needless to say, agriculture is a deeply-rooted part of my life experience as well as my professional career.
I first discovered Ag in the Classroom when I met with Dean Lu Calpouzos from CSU Chico, where I had been a professor and he had been the Dean. He left his position in the early 1980s and was working with Mark Linder in getting California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom up and going. I found it very interesting and enjoyed having lunch with them to discuss the plans. Over the years I have kept in contact about this agricultural literacy, education foundation.
Currently, I am a nutrition education consultant with the California Department of Education (CDE). In this role, I lead the Farm to School efforts for the CDE including training related to food and agricultural literacy. We, the CDE Nutrition Services Division, are long-time partners with Ag in the Classroom for trainings, materials, task force, committees, and events/conferences. We look to the Foundation as a reliable source of age-appropriate materials, state-of-the-art conferences, beautifully designed materials from website to news print. We tout the programs and promote it to teachers, food service professionals, and other partners.
Recently, the Ag in the Classroom staff was an integral part of our statewide trainings for school administrators, staff, and partners. The presentation and materials overwhelmingly received positive comments and attendees were very impressed and wanted to use the materials for Farm to School and Healthy School Environment activities, including food sampling, school garden, cooking in the classroom, and environmental sciences programs, as well as connecting agricultural literacy to many aspects of the core curriculum. CFAITC can always be counted on to be supportive, professional, knowledgeable leaders with a "roll-up your sleeves, let's get the job done" attitude.
In today's society, I believe it is particularly important for California students to be agriculturally literate and aware about the food system, food literacy, and to have an appreciation for the stewardship needed to grow and produce all of the safe, healthy food options available to us today.
I love California agriculture and thank all those that work hard to produce the bountiful, nutritious food we have here… we are all very fortunate! Many thanks to Ag in the Classroom for connecting education and agriculture like no other organization can!
Home | Site Map | The Foundation | Resources | Calendar | Kids' Corner
Media | Donate | Contact | Legal Notice
© 2012 California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. All rights reserved.
About Us