Summary 2023 — Iowa

State Contact

Ms. Kelly Foss
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
P.O. Box 14458
Des Moines, IA 50306-3458
P: 515.331.4182
E: kfoss@iowaagliteracy.org
Website

Innovative Programming

• Updated the FarmChat program to create a more interactive environment for participants, as well as increased longevity with the production of evergreen videos after the live event.
• Created a virtual pork learning kit to facilitate learning surrounding Pork Month in October.
• Hosted a fall professional development workshop that included both in-service and pre-service teachers, training them on concepts related to turkey and poultry production in Iowa.
• Developed a jelly making kit for AITC and classrooms to check out to educate students on specialty crop and food science concepts.

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

Students:

• Gained knowledge regarding specialty crops in Iowa, more specifically viticulture (grapes)
• Gained knowledge of agricultural careers in general, specifically relating to the pork and specialty crop industries.

Educators:

• Increased familiarity of careers within the agriculture industry outside of farming.
• Increased perception of agriculture as an effective tool for illustrating concepts to students.
• Increased understanding of Iowa's grape industry
• Increased discussion and unit development surrounding agricultural concepts
• Developed a deeper understanding of NALOs and connections to Iowa Core Standards

Pre-Service Educators:

• Increased awareness relating to how agricultural concepts can fit into their future curricula.
• Developed a deeper understanding regarding the importance of agriculture.
• Increased familiarity of careers within the agricultural industry.
• Increased understanding of the diversity within the agriculture industry.

Program Leader Biosketch

Not reported for 2023