7-25-02
Contact: Maria Samot, (803) 936-4237

Teachers Learn About Agriculture in
Preparation for New School Year 

Twenty five teachers from around the state are ready to start the school year with a greater appreciation for agriculture and are better equipped to teach their students about the sources of their food, fiber, and forestry products. 

These teachers recently completed an intensive week of study at the annual South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s (SCFB) Ag in the Classroom Institute in Florence, SC.  They also received three hours of graduate credit (good towards their teacher re-certification) from Clemson University.

 SCFB President David Winkles said, “We’re counting on our state’s teachers to help us educate young consumers about the value of agriculture.  Most kids today think that food comes from the grocery store and that clothes come from the mall.  If agriculture is to maintain its status as the second largest industry in South Carolina – providing more than 450,000 jobs – we’ve got to help people understand the link between their food, fiber and shelter and the farm.  Ag in the Classroom is a tool to help us accomplish that goal.”

Teachers heard from agriculture and education experts about topics such as poultry embryology, integrated pest management, and student learning styles.  During tours of Pee Dee farms and agribusinesses, teachers saw broiler chicks at Epps poultry farm, examined ferns and mums at Triple R Greenhouse and Nursery, watched a border collie herding sheep at Ovis Hill sheep farm, and learned about tobacco auctions at Big L tobacco warehouse.

The annual Institute, available to Kindergarten through eighth grade certified classroom teachers in SC public or private schools, continues to grow.  “We have seen a fivefold increase in the number of applications over the past two years,” said Maria Samot, AITC director.  “Because of this growing interest we are projecting an expanded Institute next year with twice the number of seats available.”  Applications for the summer Institute are mailed to South Carolina schools in March.

2002 Institute sponsors include South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation (SCFB), the AITC Fund, Clemson University, SC Beef Board, SC Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, Palmetto AgriBusiness Council, Farm Credit Associations of South Carolina, and Darlington County and Horry-Conway County Farm Bureaus.

SCFB’s Ag in the Classroom program offers cost-free grade specific lesson plans, related materials and year-round in-service workshops to South Carolina Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth grade teachers, schools and school districts.  For more information or to schedule an in-service workshop, call Ag in the Classroom Director Maria Samot, 1-800-628-4571.

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MNS 
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Schools represented at the Ag in the Classroom Institute were: