August 11, 2010
Florida Agriculture In The Classroom Funds 19 Volunteer Grants For 2010
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will learn where the materials in their clothing comes from, how farmers are often blamed for water pollution they don’t cause and other important agriculture-related lessons as part of the 19 Volunteer Grant projects funded by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom for 2010-11.
The Gainesville-based, non-profit association funded by sales of the agriculture specialty license plate known as the ‘Ag Tag’ will spend nearly $25,000 on projects carried out primarily by University of Florida IFAS extension and 4-H agents, agri-science teachers and other educators who are working to educate students about Florida agriculture. These projects will reach more than 9,000 students.
“Our volunteer grants program is just one way we fund projects carried out by our grassroots network of volunteers around the state,” said Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Chairman and Florida Beef Council representative Vina Jean Banks. “Without them, we wouldn’t reach nearly as many students as we do each year.”
The projects funded include (the organization funded is in parentheses):
1. “Where Do Clothes Grow? An Exploration of Natural Fibers from the World Around Us” – Elementary school students in Baker County will learn about where the fibers come from that make their clothes by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom “Keeping Florida Green” lessons and watching local artisans weave fabric into cloth. (Baker County 4-H)
2. “Water Gardening: Floating Food and Fun with Hydroponics” – Students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Baker County will learn about alternative growing techniques, food production and plant science by observing classroom “floating water gardens.” (Baker County Extension)
3. “H2O Outreach Project” – Students in fourth and fifth grade in North Broward County will study “non-point source pollution,” the impacts the misuse of this term has on the agriculture industry and how to protect the use of water in agriculture in the future. (Youth Environmental Alliance)
4. “Seed to Table Gardening Project” – Coral Glades High School students in Broward County will learn about Florida agriculture by establishing a ‘kitchen garden’ to be used in the school’s culinary program. (Youth Environmental Alliance)
5. “KHHS Ag-Ademics!” – Keystone Heights High School agri-science students in Clay County will prepare and deliver lessons and activities as part of a “Farm Day” for Keystone Heights Elementary students to teach them about Florida agriculture. (Keystone Heights High School agri-science teacher)
6. “Fort White Indian Growers Cooperative Greenhouse” – Agri-science students at Fort White High School in Columbia County will learn about the Florida horticulture industry by establishing a school greenhouse project. (Fort White High School agriscience teacher)
7. “Escambia County Growing Gardeners” – Elementary and middle school students in Escambia County will learn about local agriculture and healthy eating choices by observing fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in raised bed gardens and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons. (Escambia County Extension)
8. “Flagler County Ag Ventures” – Fourth grade students will learn about local agriculture by participating in an AgVenture field trip during which they are routed through stations that teach them about different locally grown commodities. (Flagler County 4-H)
9. “Learning from a Fish in a School” – Agri-science students at Dowdell Middle Magnet School in Hillsborough County will learn about the aquaculture industry by establishing an aquaculture lab at their school. (Dowdell Middle Magnet School agri-science teacher)
10. “Sassy Cows for Savvy Kids” – Special needs students at Riverview High School in Hillsborough County will learn about the Florida dairy industry by rearing a heifer and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s “Keeping Florida Green” lessons. (Riverview High School agriscience teacher)
11. “First Time Farmers” – First graders in Jackson County will learn about local agriculture production by participating in classroom activities and an AgVenture program. (Jackson County 4-H)
12. “ESE Classroom Garden” – Special needs students at Liberty County High School will learn about local commodity production by observing plants growing in containers and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons. (Liberty County High School agriscience teacher)
13. “AgVenture” – Third graders in Manatee County will learn about Florida agriculture by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons and participating in an AgVenture field trip program. (Manatee County 4-H)
14. “Tiny Green Thumbs” – Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will gain hands-on farm experience by participating in six workshops at Gamble Creek Farm in Manatee County and learn from Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons. (Florida West Coast Resource and Conservation and Development Council)
15. “Fifth Grade Farm Entrepreneurs” – Fifth graders in Sumter County will learn about local commodity production and important science lessons by forming “grower cooperatives,” establishing vegetable gardens and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons and Ag Learning Barn program. (Sumter County Extension)
16. “Fall Harvest Farm Experience for Suwannee Valley Youth” – Fourth graders in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Nassau, Suwannee and Union counties will learn about local commodity production by participating in a fall AgVenture field trip program. (Suwannee County Extension)
17. “Chicken Wing Day Camp” – Students in third grade through middle school will learn about local poultry production by visiting a poultry facility and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons. (Suwannee Valley 4-H League)
18. “4-H Agriculture Day” – Fifth graders in Taylor County will learn about the Florida agriculture industry by participating in an Agriculture Day field trip and reviewing Florida Agriculture in the Classroom materials. (Taylor County 4-H)
19. “Hello Hydroponics!” – Students in third through fifth grade will learn about alternative growing methods by observing a hydroponics teaching unit their teachers will receive and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons their teachers will present. (Taylor County 4-H)
For more information:
Lisa Gaskalla
(352) 846-1391
