Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation MAITC Foundation raises and manages private sector funds to fulfill MAITC program needs.

Bring fresh perspectives and real-world connections to your classroom this fall. Join us this July for hands-on learning...
06/17/2026

Bring fresh perspectives and real-world connections to your classroom this fall. Join us this July for hands-on learning designed to help your students understand the people, families, and science behind their food and natural resources.

You can earn up to 24 CEUs through our two summer professional development opportunities:

Central MN Teacher Tour: July 15 in Little Falls (8 CEUs). Tour local operations like Smude Farms and Sprout MN to see agriculture in action.

Growing Minds Conference: July 27 through 28 at Saint Paul College (16 CEUs). Connect with fellow educators for two days of inspiration and classroom-ready lessons.

View the full schedules and register at the link in the comments below.

Equipping teachers with the right tools is the key to making agricultural literacy a permanent part of the student exper...
06/16/2026

Equipping teachers with the right tools is the key to making agricultural literacy a permanent part of the student experience.

Our series continues with Jessica Petroske, a Resource Specialist for the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. Jessica ensures that our educational materials remain accessible, accurate, and aligned with the needs of modern teachers, helping to spark curiosity about agriculture in students of all ages.

For Jessica, this mission is personal. Her own passion for building awareness of agriculture began with agricultural classes in high school and when a social studies teacher encouraged her to enter an essay contest. That moment led to a life-changing journey to Asia through the World Food Prize International Symposium—an experience that completely reshaped her future and fueled her drive to bring enriching ag opportunities to classrooms across Minnesota.

"It’s a privilege to support Minnesota’s educators by providing resources that make a real impact. I love being part of a team that helps students discover the science and stories behind their food and fiber."

Jessica is a vital part of our Team working to enrich Minnesota education. She even took the global stage recently to present on fighting hunger at the World Food Prize International Symposium! We’ve left links to her full story and our team page in the comments below.

At Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, expanding agricultural literacy means showing students the real sc...
06/16/2026

At Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, expanding agricultural literacy means showing students the real science and innovation behind modern land stewardship. We are incredibly grateful to recognize USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Minnesota NRCS) as a Generations Club Level Investor, as their support allows us to connect the next generation with the vital concepts of natural resource conservation.

While our focus is on K-12 classrooms, Minnesota NRCS also maintains an extensive archive of technical resources and land use data designed directly for agricultural producers. These advanced conservation tools, which include technical guides for soil health, agronomy, and water management, showcase the highly scientific nature of modern farming. By understanding the sophisticated resources available to our state’s producers, educators can better inspire students toward future STEM and conservation pathways.

We appreciate the continued partnership of Minnesota NRCS and their dedication to shaping a more ag-literate future for Minnesota.

Please see the first comment below to explore their comprehensive technical resources archive.

It encourages critical thinking, sparks curiosity, and helps young people explore the connections between agriculture, n...
06/11/2026

It encourages critical thinking, sparks curiosity, and helps young people explore the connections between agriculture, natural resources, communities, and the world around them.

When educators have access to engaging, agriculture-based resources, they can bring real-world learning into the classroom and help students better understand the systems that support our daily lives. Those lessons often lead to bigger conversations about sustainability, food security, innovation, and our shared future.

At MAITC, we're proud to support agricultural literacy across Minnesota. The learning starts here, but the impact extends far beyond our state, reaching students, families, and communities for generations to come.

That's the power of agricultural literacy.

Interested in bringing agriculture into your classroom? Explore MAITC's free resources, including AgMags, lesson plans, virtual field trips, teacher training opportunities, and more. Visit the link below to discover tools that help students make meaningful connections to agriculture every day.

Learn more and get started today.

Literature and agriculture may seem like an unlikely pairing, but that's exactly what makes experiences like Farm Camp M...
06/10/2026

Literature and agriculture may seem like an unlikely pairing, but that's exactly what makes experiences like Farm Camp Minnesota so impactful.

Students from Wayzata Redeemer recently connected their literature studies to modern agriculture through a hands-on Farm Camp experience, discovering how the stories they read connect to the food, fiber, and fuel systems that shape our daily lives. By stepping outside the classroom and onto the farm, students gained a deeper understanding of agriculture while exploring real-world applications of their learning. Farm Camp experiences are designed to help students make meaningful connections between classroom concepts and the world around them.

Follow the link below to read about their full experience.

Transforming complex agricultural concepts into engaging classroom lessons requires a creative spark and a deep understa...
06/09/2026

Transforming complex agricultural concepts into engaging classroom lessons requires a creative spark and a deep understanding of what teachers need most.

Our series continues with Sarah Kuschel, a Resource Specialist for the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. As an exceptional resource for the agricultural community with roots in a fourth-generation family farm, Sarah is uniquely equipped to share the tools and curriculum that make ag literacy come alive for students.

She plays a vital role in bridging the gap between the barn and the book, ensuring that Minnesota teachers have high-quality, relevant materials at their fingertips.

"I love helping teachers find new, exciting ways to integrate agriculture into their daily lessons. Seeing a student finally understand how their world is connected to the farm is the most rewarding part of this work."

Sarah is a key member of our staff dedicated to empowering educators, and you can learn more about our team in the comments below.

Behind every meal is a story, and behind every ag educator is a community of support. We want to extend our heartfelt gr...
06/08/2026

Behind every meal is a story, and behind every ag educator is a community of support.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Minnesota Corn for being a Growing Minds Education Partner for our 2026 conference!

Their incredible support, backed by Minnesota’s farm families, helps us bring educators together to discover fresh, inspired ways to teach K-12 students about the vital world of agriculture. From understanding the science of farming to recognizing the real-world challenges producers face, this partnership makes a lasting impact.

Thank you, MN Corn, for rooting for our teachers and students!

📅 Join us July 27-28, 2026, at Saint Paul College.
👉 Head to the link below to secure your spot!

Preparing for the 2026 Growing Minds Conference is a true community effort, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation ...
06/05/2026

Preparing for the 2026 Growing Minds Conference is a true community effort, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (MN NRCS) is playing a key role as an official Education Partner for this year's event.

Their partnership directly supports the high-quality training and resources our regional K-12 teachers will receive at Saint Paul College on July 27-28, helping them seamlessly integrate agriculture, wildlife, and natural resources into their daily lessons.

In addition to anchoring this summer's conference, MN NRCS works alongside the MAITC Foundation throughout the school year to help bridge the gap between conservation science and the classroom. We are so thankful for partners who help us cultivate a deeper understanding of our natural world from every angle.

Join us in St. Paul this July! Follow the link in the comments below to learn more and secure your spot today. 👇

Connecting K-12 classrooms with real-world agriculture relies on a strong network of community support. We are proud to ...
06/05/2026

Connecting K-12 classrooms with real-world agriculture relies on a strong network of community support. We are proud to share our appreciation for the Northarvest Bean Growers Association and their dedication to our educational mission as a Classroom Champion for the upcoming 2026 Growing Minds Conference.

Scheduled for July 27 through July 28, 2026, at Saint Paul College, the conference is designed to provide educators with the practical tools and community connections needed to integrate food, fiber, and natural resources into their classrooms. Professional development opportunities of this scale are only made possible through the vital commitment of sponsors who truly champion our teachers.

We are deeply grateful to Northarvest for helping us support Minnesota and Wisconsin educators!

Registration is currently open, and we encourage you to secure your spot for this impactful two-day event. Check out the link in the comments below to register.

Come along with us as we spark a passion for agriculture through education!As the next generation finds themselves furth...
06/03/2026

Come along with us as we spark a passion for agriculture through education!

As the next generation finds themselves further removed from the farm, the MAITC Foundation remains deeply committed to our mission of increasing agricultural literacy for K-12 students and educators across Minnesota.

Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for our email updates at the link below to get the latest resources, inspiring impact stories, and news delivered straight to your inbox!

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P. O. Box 553
Luverne, MN
56156

Telephone

+12185561436

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