Effingham County Ag in the Classroom

Effingham County Ag in the Classroom Effingham County AITC is an education outreach program serving schools, organizations, and the community.

🌽🛒 Ag in the Classroom at Teutopolis Grade School 🌾On Thursday, Lynn had such a fun afternoon with the 2nd grade student...
09/04/2026

🌽🛒 Ag in the Classroom at Teutopolis Grade School 🌾

On Thursday, Lynn had such a fun afternoon with the 2nd grade students at Teutopolis Grade School learning all about farmers markets!

We talked about where the foods and products at a farmers market come from and how farmers help bring those items from the farm to our tables. Then the students got to put their knowledge to work by playing Farm to Cart. 🎲🥕🍎

It was a fun way to learn about agriculture, make connections, and see just how much of what we use and eat every day starts on a farm.

I love watching students learn through hands on activities and seeing those little lightbulb moments happen. 💚

Thank you, Teutopolis 2nd grade, for a great afternoon of Ag in the Classroom!

🌾🐄 Ag in the Classroom at Montessori Kids University 🌽🥛Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Casa classes at Mont...
09/04/2026

🌾🐄 Ag in the Classroom at Montessori Kids University 🌽🥛

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Casa classes at Montessori Kids University for a fun lesson about where our food and everyday products begin.

We read “On the Farm, At the Market” by G. Brian Karas and talked about the important connection between the farm, the foods we eat, and the products we use every day. 📚🌱

Then we built a Farm Web together!

We started with the farm, then worked our way out to:

🌱 What is grown on the farm
🐄 What is raised on the farm
🥛🍞👕 And the many foods and products that can be made from those crops and animals

I love watching the students make those connections. Something as simple as bread, cereal, clothing, cheese, or even an ice cream cone has an agricultural story behind it!

One of my favorite parts of Ag in the Classroom is helping children realize just how much agriculture is a part of their everyday lives. 💚

Thank you, Montessori Kids University, for another fun day of learning and growing! 🌾🚜

🌽🍎 Ag in the Classroom at Southside Grade School 🍎🌽Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with the 2nd grade stud...
09/03/2026

🌽🍎 Ag in the Classroom at Southside Grade School 🍎🌽

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with the 2nd grade students at Southside Grade School for Ag in the Classroom!

This month we are learning about Farmers Markets and all the ways agriculture connects farmers, food, and our local communities. 🌱🚜

We talked about where the foods and products we might find at a farmers market come from and how many different people and steps are involved before those items ever make it into our hands.

I love seeing the kids get excited as they begin making those connections between the farm and the food on their table. Those little lightbulb moments are one of my favorite parts of being in the classroom. 💚

Thank you, Southside 2nd grade, for another fun day of learning about agriculture!

🌾 Planting seeds of agricultural knowledge, one classroom at a time.

🌽🍎 Ag in the Classroom at Altamont Grade School 🍎🌽Yesterday, Lynn had the opportunity to visit Altamont Grade School and...
09/02/2026

🌽🍎 Ag in the Classroom at Altamont Grade School 🍎🌽

Yesterday, Lynn had the opportunity to visit Altamont Grade School and spend time with the 4th through 7th grade students learning all about Farmers Markets!

We talked about where the foods and products found at a farmers market come from, the work that happens before those items ever reach the table, and how farmers markets help connect our local farmers directly with their communities. 🌱🚜

The students had the chance to think like farmers and entrepreneurs as we explored what they might grow, raise, make, or sell if they had their very own farmers market booth.

One of my favorite parts of Ag in the Classroom is watching students make the connection between the farm, the food they eat, and the people who help bring it to their table.

Thank you, Altamont Grade School, for another fun day of learning about agriculture! 💚

🌾 Planting seeds of agricultural knowledge, one classroom at a time.

🌽 Ag in the Classroom at Beecher City Grade School 🥕🍎Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with students at Beec...
09/01/2026

🌽 Ag in the Classroom at Beecher City Grade School 🥕🍎

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with students at Beecher City Grade School learning all about farmers markets and where our food comes from!

🚜 First Grade created a Farm Web, connecting all the different foods and products that begin on the farm. It was such a fun way to help them see just how much agriculture is part of their everyday lives.

🛒 Second Grade played Farm to Cart, where they worked to fill their shopping carts while rolling the dice and hoping Mother Nature didn’t take away too many of their tokens! It was a great reminder that farmers work with many things they cannot control, including weather and growing conditions.

🍅 Fourth and Fifth Grade played a fun round of Farmers Market Spot It! Then each student used what was pictured on their card to decide what they would sell at their own farmers market booth and presented their idea to the class.

I love watching students learn through hands on activities, games, conversation, and a little friendly competition. Agriculture is so much more than what happens in the field. It connects our farms, our food, our communities, and the choices we make every day. ❤️🌾

Another wonderful day sharing agriculture with our local students through Effingham County Ag in the Classroom!
Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom

🌱 Back to the Classroom! 🌱Today is my first day back in the classroom for Ag in the Classroom this school year, and I’m ...
08/31/2026

🌱 Back to the Classroom! 🌱

Today is my first day back in the classroom for Ag in the Classroom this school year, and I’m so excited to get started! 🚜🍎🐐

There is something special about walking into a classroom and seeing those curious faces ready to learn where their food comes from, how agriculture touches their everyday lives, and just how important our farmers are.

My goal is always to make agriculture hands on, memorable, and FUN. If one child goes home excited to tell their family something new they learned about farming, food, animals, or the soil beneath their feet, then I consider that a win. ❤️

Here’s to another school year of planting little seeds of knowledge and watching them grow. 🌱

Let the 2026–2027 Ag in the Classroom adventures begin! 🚜📚

🐄🌱 FUN AG FACT! 🥛Did you know a dairy cow has an amazing digestive system that helps turn grass and other forages into m...
08/18/2026

🐄🌱 FUN AG FACT! 🥛

Did you know a dairy cow has an amazing digestive system that helps turn grass and other forages into milk? 🤯

Thanks to her four-compartment stomach and the helpful microbes living in her rumen, she can break down plant fiber that humans cannot digest and use those nutrients to help produce milk.

⏰ Some forage can stay in the rumen for up to about 48 hours, so saying the process happens in roughly 2 to 3 days is a helpful estimate, although the exact timing can vary.

That is some pretty incredible farm science! 💚

🌱 Grass
🐄 Cow
🥛 Milk

Agriculture is full of amazing connections, and there is always something new to learn!

What other farm animal would you like to see a Fun Ag Fact about next? 👇

🥚🐣 FERTILIZED EGGS NEEDED! 🐣🥚Effingham County Ag in the Classroom is getting ready for another exciting school year, and...
08/12/2026

🥚🐣 FERTILIZED EGGS NEEDED! 🐣🥚

Effingham County Ag in the Classroom is getting ready for another exciting school year, and we need fertilized eggs for our classroom hatching projects! 🐥🏫

Watching chicks develop and hatch right in the classroom is such a fun, hands-on way for students to learn about agriculture, life cycles, and where their food comes from. 🌱🚜

If you raise chickens and would be willing to donate fertilized eggs to help make this experience possible for our local students, we would love to hear from you!

📞 Please contact Lynn Wolff at 217-690-3806.

Feel free to share this post and help us connect with local poultry owners!

🥚 ➡️ 🐣 ➡️ 🐥
Bringing agriculture to life, one classroom at a time! 🌾

What a fun day at Gilmore Acres! 🐐🌱🐝We were excited to welcome Utumble2 to Gilmore Acres for a hands on morning of learn...
08/06/2026

What a fun day at Gilmore Acres! 🐐🌱🐝

We were excited to welcome Utumble2 to Gilmore Acres for a hands on morning of learning about agriculture and healthy food!

The children learned about dairy goats, discovered how they are cared for, and even had the opportunity to milk a goat. They also enjoyed sampling delicious goat milk products while learning where many of our foods come from.

Next, everyone came into my home to explore our Tower Garden and see how fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be grown right at home. It was a great opportunity to talk about the importance of eating more fresh produce and how gardening can be fun for the whole family.

To wrap up our visit, the children became “busy bees” as they learned about the important role bees play in pollination. They made a fun bee themed treat and enjoyed tasting honey while discovering how these amazing little pollinators help produce many of the foods we eat every day. 🍯

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing young minds ask questions, try new things, and connect with agriculture through hands on experiences. Thank you, Utumble2, for spending the morning with us at Gilmore Acres. We loved sharing our farm and hope to see you again!

🌾📚 What an Incredible Finish to Our 2026 Summer Ag Institute! 📚🌾Our final day of the Summer Ag Institute was held at the...
07/02/2026

🌾📚 What an Incredible Finish to Our 2026 Summer Ag Institute! 📚🌾

Our final day of the Summer Ag Institute was held at the Farm Bureau and was filled with engaging lessons, hands on activities, and meaningful connections between agriculture and the classroom.

We kicked off the day with Kevin Daugherty from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, who shared innovative ways to integrate agriculture into everyday learning. Teachers completed a coding booklet, built a Buzz Bot Harvester, and put their Illinois agriculture knowledge to the test with a fun Illinois Ag Timeline game.

Over lunch, we welcomed David Dhom, who shared his passion for beekeeping. Teachers learned how bees are essential pollinators, supporting many of the foods we eat while also helping maintain healthy hives. David discussed honey production and introduced the many products that can be made from bees, giving everyone a greater appreciation for these amazing insects.

That presentation flowed perfectly into our next speaker, Henry Siemer from Siemer Milling Company, who shared the journey of wheat from the field to the table. Teachers learned about the wheat industry, the milling process, and the many different types of flour produced at Siemer Milling that are used in foods we enjoy every day.

Our final presentation brought everything together as Lynn Wolff explored the science of fermentation through sourdough. Teachers mixed and took home their own loaf of sourdough bread while participating in two classroom ready activities: Unleash the Yeast and Butter in a Jar. These hands on lessons demonstrated how agriculture, chemistry, biology, and food science can come together in fun and engaging ways for students.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the teachers who attended this year’s Summer Ag Institute. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication to bringing agriculture into your classrooms are what make this program such a success. We hope you left with new ideas, valuable resources, and a deeper appreciation for the many ways agriculture touches our everyday lives.

Until next year! 🌾💚

Address

1102 W Evergreen Avenue
Effingham, IL
62401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12173422103

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Effingham County Ag in the Classroom posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Effingham County Ag in the Classroom:

Shortcuts

Share

Category