Ag in the Classroom meets
The Will County Ag-in-the-Classroom and Ag Advisory Board met on Tuesday July 23rd at 6:45 pm with the following members present: Abby Cowger, Dakota Cowger, Nancy Kuhajda, Pam Robbins, Kelly Reus, Jill Ostby and Mark Schneidewind, Farm Bureau manager.
Dakota reported on the final numbers for the school year reaching 8,458 students and 269 programs were done in schools where 31 were in schools and involved 83 teachers with programs and activities. The newsletter is going out in 2 weeks for the new school year. The grant was completed and turned in 2 weeks ago.
The Summer Ag Institute was held in June for 4 days and we had 8 teachers do the entire 4 days and 5 more do 2 or 3 days. Graduate credits were offered as well as PD hours. Bella is doing back-to-school teacher bags and this will be in the newsletter asking teachers to place their order. They will be offering a school teacher day for ag development and will be done by Bella.
The Will County Fair is coming up on August 21-25 and set up is Aug 20th. A work schedule was passed around. Activities and a game were discussed and we have several booths from ag groups again. The young farmers golf outing for ag education is set for this Friday, July 26th with 29 foursomes. There will be no harvest dinner for 2024; however the Food for Thought effort is going to Navy Pier on September 21st and will be doing a pollinator program, We will need 4-6 workers for September 21st.
Abby provided an update on her activities with FFA. Peotone FFA had an officer retreat, took 10 students to the State Convention for all 4 days and had an additional 15 students attend 1-2 days. Costs were higher than a year ago based on all the activities they were involved with. They had 6 state degree winners on stage and one American Farmer degree. They had a DC trip with the Farm Bureau, attended a 4-day teachers ag conference and just worked the Threshermen’s show last weekend.
Nancy reported that she has a new partnership with JULIE and Waste Management for programs. The summer garden program with district 86 is going well and she is adding 2 more schools so around 280 kids for a 27-week effort a 1 1/2 half hour after school program once a week. She has a 5-gallon bucket garden program and has developed a sensory garden which has been working well for the blind and handicapped. Go Green Garden is once a week for all ages and is targeted for groups and individuals who have a need which helps them with more access to food and learning how to grow and gardens are involved. She is considering a proper fall mowing program and the head start program for three- and four-year-olds getting them physical exposure to plants and nature at a young age.
Mark discussed the Market Marker program on the website and Dakota said in his marketing class this fall he was assigning some students to help get more on the map. Pam indicated she has had several medical people ask her about the harvest dinner and she has talked to about 20 that they are taking one year off. Everyone is gearing up for the fair and Nancy has a selfie program with Monarchs this year at their booth.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm. The next meeting is set for November 21st at 6:30 pm at the office.