Summary 2022 — Maryland

State Contact

Innovative Programming

Urban Garden Grants improvements through our internal program review process to include a broadening of the RFP to include non-traditional gardening activities.

Piloting a in-person Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshop Series. This pilot is an improvement to our Infusing Ag in the Classroom online- educator program that was put into place in 2018.

Farm Bureau Toolkit - The MD Local Farm Bureau Ag Education Toolkit is a working document designed to help county chapters understand how to connect with the school systems. This comprehensive program covers all possible elementary, middle, high, and secondary ag education and literacy opportunities throughout our state. Presented it at Farm Bureau convention and following up with counties monthly.

Two Pre-service teacher workshops on managing a FFA Chapter and AET Record book training. Teacher Professional Development for science teachers ""the World Beneath Your Feet"" Partnership with NAITC and MAEF. Included presentations by staff at the University of MD, IAA, MD Grain Producers. Maryland Agriculture Educator's Conference was held in August and provided numerous workshops for teachers to develop skills to enhance classroom instruction.

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

• Increased knowledge and skills in the integration of agricultural education in classroom teachers
• Increased understanding of agriculture connections to personal and professional lives of educators
• Connected formal and non formal educators to agriculture within their communities
• Fostered partnerships across ag organizations and non ag organizations through ag literacy work

Program Leader Biosketch

Victoria Stone is the Middle School Education Director for the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation. Victoria started with MAEF in 2022 after a career with the University of Maryland Extension 4-H Youth Development program in Cecil County, MD. Formerly known as the ""chick lady"" after providing embryology experiences to 1,000's of students throughout her tenure, Victoria now uses those skills to create agricultural literacy programs and foster partnerships for students across Maryland.

Victoria earned a A.A. degree from Cecil College in Secondary Education, a B.S. degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Liberty University, and a M.S. degree in Learning Design and Technology from University of Maryland, Global Campus. Victoria was named Maryland Agriculture in the Classroom Program Leader in the Fall of 2022.