6-24-04
Contacts:
Tracy Taylor Grondine  (202) 406-3642 tracyg@fb.org 
Mace Thornton (202) 406-3641 macet@fb.org

New Sponsorships Benefit Agriculture in the Classroom

WASHINGTON, D.C., - Two new sponsorships that will benefit agricultural education were announced today at the national Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Albuquerque, N.M. Monsanto donated $50,000 to the Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awarded four scholarships to teachers to attend the conference.

The Monsanto gift will fund a total of nine projects over the next three years through a competitive state-level grant process administered by the AITC Consortium. The grants will award outstanding initiatives developed by state AITC programs focused on biotechnology, plant sciences, or agriculture and the environment.

“Science education is fundamental to fully appreciate the contribution agriculture makes in our society and we believe AITC is committed to educating the next generation of consumers and opinion leaders about these issues,” said Kerry Preete, vice president of Monsanto, U.S. Crop Production.

The teacher scholarships awarded by AFBFA increase participation in the conference.
“We’re pleased to support efforts to bring more teachers to this conference, as it provides new materials and new ideas for educating about agriculture,” said Marsha Purcell, managing director of AFBFA.

Virginia Dietz of North Dakota; Steven Tanguay of Maine; Carol Sue Waddell of Illinois; and Carole Hunter Senn of South Carolina each received $1,000 scholarships from AFBFA to attend the conference.

In addition to the teacher scholarships, AFBFA recently awarded 17 White-Reinhardt Fund mini-grants to state and county Farm Bureaus to support classroom projects to increase agricultural literacy. The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau Women's Committee.

The winning states and counties are: Acadia Parish Farm Bureau (Louisiana), Alabama Farm Bureau, Calumet County Farm Bureau (Wisconsin), Carroll County Farm Bureau (Virginia), Darlington County Farm Bureau (South Carolina), East St. James Parish Farm Bureau (Louisiana), Louisiana Farm Bureau, Maine Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau, Mississippi Farm Bureau, North Dakota Farm Bureau, Phillips County Farm Bureau (Kansas), Sauk County Farm Bureau (Wisconsin), Spartanburg County Farm Bureau (South Carolina), St. John Parish Farm Bureau (Louisiana), Vermont Farm Bureau and Waushara County Farm Bureau (Wisconsin).

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference continues through June 26 in Albuquerque, N.M, exploring the theme “The Cultures of Agriculture.” Designed for teachers and volunteers who have an interest in agricultural literacy, the conference demonstrates how to incorporate agricultural concepts across the curriculum through interesting and engaging activities and lessons. The Agriculture Department and the New Mexico Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom sponsored and hosted the conference.

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