Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom

06/19/2026

🌟 Grant Spotlight 🌟 Thanks to an Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom Classroom Grant, Marietta Leitch brought agriculture to life for 75 students in grades K-5 at Nezperce Elementary School.

Using agriculture-themed books and support from local FFA students, elementary students learned where their food comes from and how Idaho farmers and ranchers help feed their communities. Activities included food tastings, planting a school pumpkin patch, hatching chicks, and sharing agricultural lessons across grade levels.

Teachers reported students making connections between the foods they eat and the agriculture they see around them every day. One student even pointed out cattle during a field trip and proudly explained, "That's where our hamburgers come from!"

Through hands-on activities, literature, and FFA mentorship, students gained a greater appreciation for local agriculture and healthy food choices.

06/09/2026

🌟 Grant Spotlight 🌟White Pine Charter School's 5th grade classroom brought agriculture, science, and sustainability together through a hands-on hydroponics and aquarium project made possible through an Idaho Ag in the Classroom Classroom Grant.🐟

Did you know Idaho is the #1 producer of trout in the United States? Students used this project to explore aquaculture, hydroponics, and sustainable agriculture firsthand while learning how fish, plants, and water quality all work together in a growing system.

Before the project, many students had limited knowledge of plant growth, fish life cycles, and hydroponic systems. By the end of the experience, nearly every student could correctly identify plant parts, explain fish reproductive cycles, and describe multiple growing mediums where plants can thrive.

Students also developed a passion for gardening by growing mature plants that they were able to transplant and take home to continue growing with their families. Along the way, they learned responsibility and ethical care through daily aquarium maintenance and caring for the fish.

The impact extended beyond one classroom, with additional 5th grade students visiting and learning from the project throughout the year.

06/04/2026

Last summer’s Idaho Ag in the Classroom Teacher Workshops were packed with great conversations, hands-on learning, farm tours, and teachers from across Idaho connecting over agriculture and education. And we’re getting excited to do it all again this summer!

If you joined us last year, you know how much fun these workshops are. If you haven’t attended yet, now’s your chance! Grab a teacher friend and register online today!

🔹 Eastern Idaho Workshop: July 21–22
🔹 Western Idaho Workshop: July 28–29

Teachers will tour Idaho farms and agribusinesses, meet industry professionals, gain classroom-ready resources, and earn professional development credit opportunities along the way. Transportation and meals are provided!

Register Here: https://idaho.agclassroom.org/for-teachers/summer-workshop/

Spots fill quickly, so don’t wait to sign up! We can’t wait to see everyone this summer.

06/01/2026

June is National Dairy Month, and here in Idaho, we have a lot to celebrate!🥛🐄

Did you know Idaho ranks #3 in the nation for dairy production? Dairy is one of Idaho’s leading agricultural industries, supporting thousands of farm families, local communities, and classrooms across the state. From caring for cows to producing nutritious dairy products enjoyed around the world, Idaho dairy farmers play an important role in feeding families every day. Thank you to our dairy farmers for all that you do!

05/27/2026

🌟 Grant Spotlight 🌟 Mrs. Megan Harper’s kindergarten class in Parma spent the school year exploring Idaho agriculture through hands-on learning experiences tied to monthly commodities and books, all made possible through an Idaho Ag in the Classroom Classroom Grant.
Throughout the year, students learned about pumpkins, apples, potatoes, corn, wheat, dairy, plants, and bees through activities like making butter, juicing apples, planting tomatoes, potato stamping, measuring pumpkins, grinding wheat for pancakes, and even climbing on a real tractor brought to school by a local farmer.
Students also created their own Idaho Agriculture Book during writing intervention groups, where they learned fun facts about Idaho commodities and illustrated what they discovered along the way.
Mrs. Harper shared that her students eagerly anticipated each month’s new agriculture topic and loved the activities connected to each commodity. From tasting pumpkin seeds to learning how pollination works with “Cheeto fingers,” these students experienced Idaho agriculture in a fun, memorable, and meaningful way.
Thank you, Mrs. Harper, for helping grow agricultural literacy in your classroom and inspiring the next generation of Idaho students! 💛

05/18/2026

Linda Rider had such a heart for agricultural literacy, and it’s inspiring to see her vision continue through the Kootenai County Farm to Table program. Linda was an incredible community member who understood the importance of helping students connect with agriculture and where their food comes from, something that aligns so closely with our mission at Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom. We’re grateful for the lasting impact she made on students, teachers, and agriculture in North Idaho, and we’re excited to see her legacy continue to grow for years to come!

Farm to Table started as a one-day event involving a single school. Now, the agricultural program has expanded to serve 1,900 students from schools in Kootenai County and some students in Shoshone County over the course of a week at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

05/12/2026

Have you registered yet for this year's “On the Road” Summer Workshops? Bring a teacher friend and join us for two days of hands-on learning, farm and agribusiness tours, classroom resources, networking, and fun while experiencing Idaho agriculture firsthand!

📍 Eastern Idaho Workshop: July 21–22, 2026
📍 Western Idaho Workshop: July 28–29, 2026

🎓Open to K–12 teachers & Professional development credit available!

Register and learn more here: https://idaho.agclassroom.org/for-teachers/summer-workshop/

05/07/2026

We’re incredibly thankful for the strong support of our Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom Board of Directors and partners like AgWest Farm Credit who help make opportunities like this possible for students across Idaho. Thank you again to Derek Geratt and the AgWest team for going above and beyond to support agricultural literacy!

05/07/2026

The best kind of surprise 🎉 Annelise’s teacher and classmates at West Elementary pulled off the perfect surprise to share the news that her design won this year’s Ag License Plate Contest. The excitement in the room says it all! And did we mention… the winning class gets a pizza party? 🍕
Shout out to her teacher, Amy Castille, for going above and beyond for her students and making moments like this so special.

05/05/2026

Big congratulations to our Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom License Plate Design Contest winner! 🎉We had over 100 submissions, and our winning design comes from West Elementary School in Mountain Home. Way to go, Annelise, a talented 4th grader! 👏
We also had 6 outstanding finalists who made the decision a tough one. A huge thank you to all the teachers and classrooms who participated. We loved seeing the creativity and excitement around Idaho agriculture.
Be on the lookout for the NEW Ag license plate, featuring a different design by a professional graphic designer, coming to a DMV near you July 1st! 🚗