Mission: The mission of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is to promote, through education, an awareness and understanding of the importance of agriculture. Such an understanding will enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of all Virginians.
Results: The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom was chartered in 1993 to raise funds in support of the Agriculture in the Classroom program in Virginia. In the past 10 years, Agriculture in the Classroom has provided training workshops to more than 10,000 educators in Virginia. Teacher who attend workshops leave with lesson plans, activiies,and resources that help them to incorporate examples from agriculture into their standard curriculm. These teachers impact more than 25,000 students in Virginia on an annual basis. In addition to training workshops, Agriculture in the Classrom provides 11,000 educators in Virginia with a semi-annual educational newsletter and creates many web-based resources for use by teachers across the state.
Target demographics: Virginia educators in grades K-8
I am the newest member of the Ag In The Classroom staff. Having worked with the other staff members for approximately 2 months, I had a feel for the overall purpose and mission of the foundation. But I didn't have a full appreciation for what the educators did until I attended a garden workshop in January 2009. The facilitator energized a group of approximately 30 teachers and shared an interactive, fast paced day that really impressed me. The workshop reinforced the importance of what we do, and why we do it. That message was well received by the group and I'm sure they felt as compelled as I did to carry and pass it on to others.