Summary 2023 — Texas

State Contact

Ms. Jordan Bartels
Texas Farm Bureau
P.O. Box 2689
Waco, TX 76702
P: 254.751.2569
E: jbartels@txfb.org
Website

Innovative Programming

In 2023, TFB worked to meet some educational needs of the Homeschool community by offering two new opportunities. First, TFB hosted a Homeschool Summer Ag Academy (SAA), which was a professional development (PD) opportunity for homeschool educators. Traditionally, TFB has only offered summer PD opportunities to public and traditional private school educators. The Homeschool SAA was a two-day PD opportunity where attendees participated in site visits, heard from guest speakers, and worked with AITC staff to learn new ways to incorporate ag into the classroom. To also help meet some needs of this audience, TFB offered a Homeschool Garden Grant for the first time in 2023 where 15 recipients were selected to receive a $200 grant for a garden project. TFB received 108 qualifying applications for this program.

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

• The increased interest from teachers to learn about (and participate in) other programs TFB AITC offers was an indication that current programming that those teachers participated in was valuable and impactful in the classroom.
• The virtual format of FFS has continued to allow us to reach students and teachers who we have not engaged with in the past.
• Feedback from multiple programs continues to tell staff that programs are meeting the needs in the classroom and in professional development.

Program Leader Biosketch

Jordan Bartels serves as an Associate Director in the Organization Division where she specifically oversees the Educational Outreach efforts. She joined Texas Farm Bureau in August 2019.

In this role, Bartels is responsible for the development, organization, oversight, and execution of all programs involving K-12 in-classroom opportunities, teacher professional development, TFB's garden grant programs, and content and resource development.

Jordan's prior work included working with student organizations at both Texas A&M University and Baylor University, program development, and college-student parent involvement and support. Bartels' primary work prior to TFB was with The Office of Access and Learning Accommodation at Baylor University where her worked focused on serving students with learning disabilities.

Bartels holds a B.S. in Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Agricultural Leadership and Development and an M.S. Ed. in Educational Administration, all from Texas A&M University. During her time at A&M, Jordan focused much of her work on curriculum and instruction and student development, working on projects during her graduate work that included curriculum development and program design and implementation.

Jordan resides on the family ranch with her husband and young son.