By Chris Aldridge

Kentucky Ag News

March 17-21 will mark a milestone in Kentucky’s educational landscape as the state celebrates its first-ever Agriculture Education Week. This initiative promises to deliver a dynamic learning experience for students, equip educators with invaluable resources, and foster stronger connections between agriculture and local communities. The week will serve as an interactive opportunity to help students understand agriculture’s vital role in everyday life, regardless of whether they aspire to work in the industry.

In today’s digital age, many students are increasingly detached from the origins of their food, fiber, and fuel. Agriculture Education Week aims to bridge that gap and provide a comprehensive learning experience while helping students explore agriculture as a possible career option.

“Ag Education Week is about more than just teaching kids where their food comes from; It’s about showing them the opportunities agriculture offers and inspiring them to be part of its future,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said. “By engaging students early, we’re not only fostering appreciation but also preparing the next generation of farmers, scientists, business leaders, and innovators who will keep Kentucky agriculture strong. Investing in ag education today ensures a thriving, sustainable industry for tomorrow.”

Kentucky elementary students (kindergarten through fifth grade) can participate in all nine categories of activities during the week, while middle and high school students (sixth through 12th grades) can take part in three categories. Six involve reading and writing, one pertains to social studies, one relates to career studies, and one covers both social and career studies.

In the career studies category, the week will be highlighted by a live broadcast to all schools of an “Ask an Aggie” program at 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 20. The virtual panel discussion, hosted by Miss Kentucky Chapel Tinius, provides students of all ages with an opportunity to submit questions to professionals in Kentucky’s agriculture industry and hear their answers. Panelists include: Commissioner Shell, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation President Eddie Melton, 4-H and FFA State Presidents Callie Derossett and Trenton Page, Hinton Mills Vice President Adam Hinton, a retired veterinarian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a financial officer for Farm Credit Mid-America.

In the social studies category, The Real Ag Experience will offer agriculture tours that give elementary students a firsthand look at local farms and agribusinesses. These experiences will connect young Kentuckians with the people and processes that keep our agriculture industry thriving, helping them understand the vital role agriculture plays in their daily lives and future careers.

The Real Ag Experience provides a chance for students to meet farmers, florists, veterinarians, landscapers, greenhouse managers, farm store owners, and ag finance and insurance professionals in their communities. It allows students to make the crucial connection between agricultural products that they rely on and the hard-working people who produce them.

“Students today are tomorrow’s leaders, and by helping them connect with agriculture, Ag Education Week will foster the next generation of farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and consumers,” Commissioner Shell said.

For more information on Ag Education Week, the history and diversity of Kentucky agriculture lesson plans and resources, and to learn how you can get involved in this initiative, visit https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/ag-education-week.html.