Bringing agriculture into the classroom in the state where farming and ranching are still the number one industry means giving teachers their chance to learn on the farm. Yes, there is classroom style learning, but many of the over 100 teachers who attend these workshops in June say “field trips” and hands on learning is very important.

“It’s very neat to see the agriculture, you know, in person and not just being told about it,” said Heather Steverson, Puckett Elementary School teacher.

“I actually think it was a healthy balance of, you know, being out on the land and also being in the classroom,” said Rohndalyn Pearis, North Panola High School teacher. “What you do with little kids and what you do to educate, entertain, “edutaing” older kids is different so, I think it’s the perfect balance actually.”

Rohndalyn Pearis teaches high school level Social Studies and Mississippi Studies at North Panola High School. Even though her family farms she chose education, Pearis believes the Ag in the Classroom Workshops benefit all levels and all subjects, like Kaliegh Pennington who teaches kindergarten in Rankin County.

“I believe that there’s a lot of valuable content and instruction that needs to be taught all throughout our county and state for just agriculture stem, or all the inclusion,” said Pennington. “I believe that can be carried on for lifelong learning as well.”

But the fact remains, whether in a rural school surrounded by open fields or urban schools with more asphalt than grass, all students need to understand the role agriculture plays in their day to day lives.

“You would think living in Smith County every kid would know anything about agriculture, but, surprisingly, you know we’re getting further and further away from that,” said Shelly Freeman, Mize Attendance Center teacher. “So, I do add in everything that I can to be agriculturally related, and it’s still a lot of surprise for some of my students.”

“Understanding where their food comes from.  It don’t come from Walmart.  That it does come from the ground,” said Clint Smith, Northeast Jones High School teacher. “Seeing the different farming types and everything, you know, that you can carry back to your classroom and tell your kids what’s going on.”

That’s why this workshop has grown from two seminars to three. The demand continues to grow. Many teachers come back each year, but word is spreading with growing numbers of first year attendees as well.

“I thought it sounded interesting.  Now that I’m here, I want to come back every year.  It’s probably the best CEU, definitely anywhere local, that I’ve ever done,” said Diane Fraccastoro, Lake Cormorant Elementary School teacher. “I feel like I have more resources that I can actually take back and use and have things that will engage the kids, which is half of the battle.”

“Signed up for the workshop not really knowing what to expect, but I have learned so much,” said Madeline Wadell, Gautier Elementary School teacher. “I’ve got some lesson plans, some things that I’m going to use in my classroom.  I feel like I’m just going to go restructure everything and just stick some Ag in all of my lessons.”

And with the growing interest, it becomes easier to find producers and farms who want to tell their story, like Stephanie Young who owns and runs Hillhouse Pastures, a sheep farm in Lafayette County.

“I don’t think you could just put it on a page and it be meaningful for the children.  I think they need to be observing and participating,” said Stephanie Young, Hillhouse Pastures, owner and operator. “I’d never participated in 4‑H, but programs like that.  Hands‑on learning is the best.  It just teaches you so much about life, not just about science but really about perseverance and integrity.”

But where you attend and what you experience is left only up to how far you want to drive, from marine life on the Gulf Coast, to dairy up north to livestock in central Mississippi. All with the goal of inspiring those who make education through AG a part of their everyday lessons.

“I have really enjoyed the farm in the south and I live closer to the south.  So, this will be something that I’ll get to even bring up with my kids that we can use because they’re not going to drive probably all the way to North Mississippi,” said Jenny McMahon, The Country Schoolhouse teacher. “But they will be able to use these kind of farms and maybe even come to like family gatherings and stuff.  That’s pretty cool.”

“I would tell them to definitely come and try it out because it really does help you think about just teaching in ways that you wouldn’t necessarily think,” said Rachel Steinhauer, Purvis Upper Elementary School teacher