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Fair workshop plans to teach science through an Ag lens

 

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS — Keeping middle school students engaged with science is essential to inspiring innovators of the future, and a free science workshop being offered as part of the "Year of the Farmer" gives Indiana teachers tools to teach science through the lens of agriculture.

In partnership with Dow AgroSciences, the Indiana State Fair will host a Teacher Development Workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, for middle school science teachers at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indiana State Museum are also leading several of the five interactive workshops for the teachers who will receive curriculum and classroom supplies to take back to their schools, as well as receive one Continuing Education Unit for participating. One-hundred spots are available for teachers who can sign up at www.in.gov/statefair/barn/804.htm

Teachers will also have the opportunity to sign up their classrooms for a free field trip to the 2015 Indiana State Fair based on one of the workshops.

Workshop to spotlight

Farm to School programs

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Farm to School Network and Illinois Stewardship Alliance are hosting a free public program and workshop highlighting successful Springfield-area farm to school projects and how to get involved with making farm to school a reality in Illinois. The program will be July 1 at 6 p.m. in the Springfield Public Library Carnegie Room North.

Fueled by parents, doctors and teachers who are concerned that more than 30 percent of all children in the U.S. are overweight or obese, more and more communities are turning to farm to school programs as a win-win for everyone involved. Farm to school programs are bringing healthier, fresh food to kids through school gardens and local food procurement, instilling a greater appreciation for U.S. agriculture among school children, teachers and parents, and putting more money in the pockets of farmers.

This workshop will include a panel discussion featuring successful farm to school projects from the Springfield area. Panelists include local farmer Andy Heck, the food service director for New Berlin School district and staff from Generation Healthy Kids. Generation Healthy Kids (GenH Kids) is a leader in the Springfield area when it comes to installing gardens at schools and providing educational programs for kids and parents to learn about healthy eating and local food.

"With farm to school programs kids win, farmers win, and communities win," said Wes King, executive director of Illinois Stewardship Alliance. "The goal of this workshop is to highlight successful farm to school projects that could be models for others while also educating folks on how they can support positive federal policy that enables more farm to school initiatives."

ADM hosts FFA student

leaders and lawmakers

 

DECATUR, Ill. — State Senators Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) met with local, state and national FFA student leaders during their visit April 27 to ADM’s headquarters. Manar, Rose the FFA leaders and ADM executives discussed the importance of agricultural education, agribusiness technology and career readiness.

"It is truly impressive to see how engaged and advanced students become as a result of programs like FFA. They receive such a well-rounded experience that the skills they develop transfer into countless diverse careers both in and out of agriculture," Manar said.

"Agriculture is Illinois’ number one employer and a key driver of our state’s economy," Rose said. "I was so impressed by the caliber of these student leaders, and ADM was a gracious host. The students’ presentations reaffirmed the changing face of agribusiness in the world and the enormous growth opportunities in this sector."

6/25/2015