Sponsor Feature: Agriculture in the Classroom

Agriculture education is important to teach the next generation where our food comes from and how it gets from the farm to the final products we purchase at the grocery store. Agriculture in the Classroom—Manitoba (AITC-M) and Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC – SK) work with teachers and students across the Prairies to get them excited about Canadian agriculture through a variety of interactive events and programs.

Richardson is proud to support Agriculture in the Classroom in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Richardson provides funds and in kind donations to support AITC-M and ATIC – SK initiatives, including providing space at Kelburn Farm, Richardson’s research and development farm in southern Manitoba, for AITC-M’s Amazing Ag Adventure program, providing Canola Harvest margarines for breakfasts like the Made in Manitoba Breakfast and providing funding and volunteers for AITC events in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

 

 

Programs and Events

AITC provides many agriculture-related programs for students of all ages in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including:

• Amazing Agriculture Adventure – an interactive learning experience for Grade 4 and 5 students where many parts of the curriculum are brought to life by providing students with hands-on experiences at interactive stations about Manitoba agriculture.
• Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week – a classroom program that encourages children to learn about and celebrate agriculture in various ways, including reading books about farming, watching videos and meeting with farmers and other agricultural representatives.
• Food Farms – offer Grades 3 and 4 students opportunities to learn about where their food comes from through actively participating in growing ingredients and preparing meals like pizza or burgers and fries.
• Gen Ag – gives students in high school the opportunity to explore a career in agriculture and create a business case on marketing careers in agriculture to urban students.
• Little Green Thumbs – an indoor garden program that engages and inspires students to grow and eat healthy food.

2015 At a Glance 

In Manitoba:

• 1,400 students attended the Amazing Ag Adventure
• 471 students toured booths at the Amazing Ag Days Adventure
• 200 classrooms were visited during Canadian Ag Literacy Week
• 40 schools hosted a Made in Manitoba Breakfast
• 36 Little Green Thumbs gardens grew

In Saskatchewan:

• 53,470 students were reached through 519 schools in 206 communities
• 325,680 hours were spent learning about Canadian agriculture
• 2,908 resources were downloaded from the AITC – SK website
• 18 workshops were held for teachers and education students
• 94 per cent of students said “Exploring Food Science” improved their awareness of food science