Summary 2019 — Wisconsin

State Contact

Ms Darlene Arneson
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
P.O. Box 5550
Madison, WI 53705-0550
P: 608.828.5644
E: darneson@wfbf.com
Website

Classroom Resources

Growing Wisconsin 2019 lesson activities - https://www.wisagclassroom.org/lessons-resources/classroom-lessons/growing-wisconsin-2018-19/ Essay Contest Lessons- https://www.wisagclassroom.org/events-activities/essay-contest/ 2019 Wisconsin Farm Fact Lesson- https://www.wisagclassroom.org/wisconsin-farm-facts-2/

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

• 35 participants experienced hands-on experiences during our two-day bus tour and 24 attending summer classroom training sessions.
• Easier to use, find and updated resources as we did a complete overhaul and redesign of the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom website.
• 21 recipients of matching grants totaling $9,013 were able to fund new activities and initiatives.
• 13 teachers received $1,300 in Teacher Mini-Grants to buy resources, books or to have experiences on farms.
• 2,064 students learned about farmers’ markets through our essay contest for 4-5th grade students with the topic “Making it Happen at the Farmers Market”.
• Ashley VandenBush, a third-grade teacher from Sturgeon Bay, was our state winner and applicant for the USDA Excellence in Teacher About Agriculture Award program.
• Increased awareness of Wisconsin agriculture and related careers as we reprinted 30,000 copies of This Business Called Agriculture and 7,500 of An Agricultural Career for You booklets and continued to distribute them to students, teachers and volunteers.
• Administered two new funding opportunities with one-time funding from the Rural Insurance Agents Association for FFA and Extension. Awarded $2,238.75 in four Food for America Jump Start Grants ($400 each) to Shullsburg FFA, Parkview FFA, Brodhead FFA, and River Valley FFA for their programs. Also awarded $638.00 to Farm Technology Days in Jefferson County for their FFA Career Day held on the Tuesday of the 2019 show. It helped bus in 250 FFA members who went on a scavenger hunt learning about careers in agriculture and natural resources. 4-H Programs-$2,238.75 for a pilot program for 4-H clubs to have PTO and tractor driving kits available for members. They include PTO demo shafts, grain wagon demos, cones, consumables such as handouts, and containers to house the kids.

Biosketch

Darlene Arneson returned as the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator in October 2016 after a 2 ½ year departure. She previously served in that role from September 2004 – 2014 and 2016- present. Work with teachers of all grade levels and volunteers by providing agriculture education resources that will help to increase the agricultural literacy in our state. Coordinate volunteer training for counties to assist them in developing an Ag in the Classroom program. Administer funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Responsibilities also include staffing display booths at teacher conventions and trade shows; administering the Matching Grant, Teacher Mini-Grant and Outstanding Teacher programs; completion of required reports; and developing new programs and activities. Darlene had served as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation Director from 2008-2014. Responsibilities include securing funding, conducting fundraisers, and coordination of sponsorship of programs and activities. Darlene was the Dane County Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator for Dane County Farm Bureau, Madison. 1990 – 2004. Served for ten years on county level and was appointed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Steering Committee. Darlene was an Agriculture Education Instructor and FFA Advisor: Cashton High School and Cambridge High School. 1986 – 1990. Responsible for teaching the agriculture and natural resource classes, served as FFA and class advisor, assisted the FFA Alumni and developed curriculum for program. Managed the school farm that was donated to the school district. Education-Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Education from University of Wisconsin - Madison