August 8, 2007
Florida Ag In The Classroom To Fund 21 Volunteer Grants
Agriculture field trip programs, nutritional programs with emphases on Florida commodities and aquaculture curriculum distribution are just a few of the projects Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., approved for funding as part of its 2007 Volunteer Grants program.
The non-profit association based in Gainesville approved 21 grant projects around the state, many of them to be carried out by University of Florida/IFAS Extension and 4-H programs, county Farm Bureaus, local fair organizations, among other non-profit organizations. It will spend more than $27,000 and project organizers estimate they will reach nearly 15,000 students statewide.
“We are proud to fund projects Florida agriculture industry volunteers and others carry out to educate Florida students and teachers about the importance of our industry,” said Cara Martin, chairman of Florida Ag in the Classroom and assistant director of government and community affairs for Florida Farm Bureau.
“Without this grassroots network of volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to reach nearly as many students and teachers around the state,” Martin said.
Florida Ag in the Classroom uses proceeds from the sale of the agriculture specialty license plate, or the Ag Tag, to fund its teacher and volunteer grants programs, among other Florida Ag in the Classroom programs.
The 2007 Volunteer Grant projects are as follows:
“Gardening for Orphaned Animal Life” -- Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital in Coral Springs will conduct a project in which students plant, feed, monitor and harvest seasonal vegetables using hydroponics growing systems and raised bed planting.
“Growing Healthy Kids” -- Holy Cross Hospital’s “Growing Healthy Kids” project in Fort Lauderdale will use agriculture lessons to teach students about the importance of a healthy diet and the Florida commodities that are part of a healthy diet.
“Clay County 4-H Embryology Program” -- Clay County 4-H will conduct an embryology project that teaches students about the life cycles of quail, embryo development, the environment and life skills.
“Food: From Farm to your “Tummy” -- Columbia County Extension will provide a six-week program to second graders in which they study nutrition and Florida commodities that are part of the USDA Food Pyramid.
“AG-Venture at Pensacola Interstate Fair” -- The Pensacola Interstate Fair will conduct an agriculture awareness project for local students and the general public.
“Agriculture for All” -- Students in the agri-science program at Matanzas High School in Flagler County will construct handicapped accessible garden space for students with disabilities to learn and experience Florida agriculture.
“Raised Bed and Mulch Bins” -- Students in the Lake Placid Middle School agri-science program in Highlands County will construct raised bed garden and mulch bins for students to learn the techniques of terracing, soil conservation and recycling.
“Plants or Portables” -- Students in the Mulrennan Middle School agri-science program in Hillsborough County will install an automated hydroponics system to produce vegetables for students to sell at a produce stand.
“The Need for Seeds” -- Indian River Extension will extend throughout the school year the Florida Agriculture Literacy program hosted by Florida Ag in the Classroom in March.
“Jackson County Ag Adventure Days” -- Jackson County Extension will provide school field trips for students to have hands-on experiences with commodities produced in the area, namely row crops, beef production, forage commodities and forestry.
“Container Gardening” -- Bethune Community Service Center in Liberty County will promote personal gardening skills to at-risk youth teaching them how to construct and maintain a raised bed garden.
“Ag Venture” -- Manatee County 4-H will educate third graders about Florida agriculture as it relates to food production, water use, and its importance to students’ daily lives.
“Osceola County Farm City Days” -- Osceola County Extension will offer a Florida Ag in the Classroom Workshop to teachers to help them prepare their students for the hands-on agricultural activities students will experience during Farm City week.
“Agriculture Day Camp” -- South Florida Fair will hold a 4-H agricultural day camp in Palm Beach County in which students will learn about the production of Florida commodities.
“Aquaculture Presentations” -- The Florida Division of Aquaculture will develop presentations, handouts and other resources for teachers to incorporate aquaculture lessons into their classrooms.
“Ag on Wheels” -- Santa Rosa Extension will develop a hands-on, mobile agriculture unit to be used to promote agriculture awareness and literacy county-wide.
“Camp E-Ma-Chamee Community Gardens” -- The Eckerd Youth Alternatives’ residential program in Santa Rosa County will teach students math, science, health and language arts lessons with hands-on agricultural experiences.
“Chickens to Omelets” -- Santa Rosa County Extension and Santa Rosa County Fair will develop a tour to teach third graders about poultry embryology and provide teachers with an incubator and embryology project they can use in their classrooms.
“St. Johns County Ag EdVentures” -- St. Johns County Extension will provide a field trip for local fourth graders to teach them about local agriculture production and the importance of agriculture to students’ daily lives.
“Bringing Agriculture to School” -- Sumter County Extension will hold a Florida Ag in the Classroom workshop to train local elementary school teachers how to use agriculture-related lessons into their classrooms.
“Agriculture Day” -- Taylor County Extension will host an “Agriculture Day” in which fifth- graders in the county visit 10 stations to learn about local commodity production.
The mission of Florida Ag in the Classroom is to educate Florida students and teachers about the importance of the agriculture industry by proving curricula, materials, grant money, Florida Agriculture Literacy Day and other programs for free or a nominal fee. Its sole source of funding comes from sales of the agriculture specialty license plate also known as the Ag Tag.
For more information:
Lisa Gaskalla
(352) 846-1391
LBGaskalla@ifas.ufl.edu
