Success Stories

Encouraging Agriculture in the Classroom
Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan

In 1994, representatives in Saskatchewan agriculture noticed youth disconnecting from the industry. They decided meet this disinterest head on and educate young people about the business. Nearly fifteen years later, the industry-sponsored organization they established – Agriculture in the Classroom Inc. – is still working with teachers to connect with the future of agriculture industry.

“We have a number of professional development opportunities for teachers,” says Sara Shymko, Executive Director of Agriculture in the Classroom Inc., ”including sessions during teacher conventions, tours during the summer, and our Agriculture Road Show, a three-day intensive hands-on trip where the teachers visit agriculture businesses.”

As with all of the organization’s programs, the Road Show’s purpose is to encourage teachers to bring agriculture into their classrooms by generating excitement about the industry. The tours began in 2006 and although they took a while to catch on – Shymko says that last year she found herself “drumming up business” – there is now a waiting list.

“It’s a three-and-a-half day tour,” says Shymko, “where we do a bit of everything! Last year we visited an apiary, an all-natural meat farm, and the University of Saskatchewan College of Agricultural and Bioresources to learn about functional foods and nutrition. We were up early to milk cows on the dairy farm, and in the field doing crop identification.”

All meals feature Saskatchewan-grown foods and all stays are in guest ranches or places that feature some aspect of agricultural tourism. Financial support for the Road Show project has been provided by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) Program.

“Because of funding like ACAAFS,” says Shymko, “there’s no cost for teachers. We get really, really great reviews from those that attend. Many of them say ‘I learnt so much’ and ‘I didn’t realize that there was so much happening in the province.’”

Preference is given to newer teachers and those who do not have a great understanding of the industry. To help meet its objective of connecting youth with agriculture, Agriculture in the Classroom provides teachers with ideas and supplies for in-class programs which match the Saskatchewan educational curriculum.

“It’s got to be useful and transferable to the kids,” insists Shymko. “This year, we’ve developed a weather and agriculture kit with four kinds of seed – oat, wheat, canola and peas – affected by weather, such as hail, drought or frost. For example, one seed sample will be damaged by hail; the other will be normal. This has been extremely popular with these teachers, because weather is in their curriculum.”

The 2008 summer tour group will camp at the Carry the Kettle First Nation, visit a Hutterite colony, take a look at potash and an inland terminal, and go to a dairy farm – which Shymko says is always a popular stop – and a bison ranch.

“Because of the good experience generated from the road show, we’ve had teachers take classes to the places we’ve visited. When students see things for themselves, it generates interest at a higher level. Once they care, they are inclined to learn even more.”

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