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Agriculture matters to all students, regardless of where they come from or what their future path is. Even though most will not grow up to be farmers, they still need what agriculture provides: food, fiber and fuel. However, teachers have a lot on their plates. With lessons to plan, assignments to grade, student lives to impact and a seemingly endless to-do list, adding in enriching lessons about agriculture often gets pushed down the priority list. Thankfully, the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom program, supported by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, is a one-stop solution for teachers and volunteers, providing accessible, reliable and relevant lessons for students of all ages and backgrounds.
For teachers looking to use AITC resources, the website (wisagclassroom.org) is a great place to start. In the educator center, a free curriculum matrix offers a quick and easy way to find lessons by keyword. Filters such as grade levels, topics and companion resource types make it simple to find exactly what fits best for you. Even if you have no prior knowledge about a particular subject, the lessons provide plenty of background before you begin. Wisconsin-specific lesson plans and posters are also available to educate students about our state’s top commodities. If you are looking for ways to incorporate agriculturally accurate children’s books, the Read & STEAM curriculum is an excellent tool, as well. The numerous free resources available at wisagclassroom.org make incorporating agriculture into classrooms readily accessible to all teachers.
AITC provides a standards-backed source for lessons, with connections in the areas of science, social studies (economics, geography, and history), health and nutrition, writing, language, math as well as career amd technical education. Using agriculture education in classroom settings in K-12 can be a fantastic way to show core concepts through real-world settings. National Content Area Standards and Common Core Standards can be found in the citations of each lesson to justify their use in classrooms. Agricultural concepts in these lessons are also tied to the National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes, and have been reviewed prior to their posting to ensure the accuracy of topics covered. The relevance of these lessons to day-to-day learning means teachers can use more engaging methods to teach subjects they are already teaching.
Best of all, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom is tried and true. In recent years, an Educator Ambassador Team has been added to discuss current trends in teaching, try out new lessons and connect teachers across subject areas to programs and curriculum. If you are new to applying for AITC grants, submitting student work for the essay contest or using lessons from the matrix, the Educator Ambassador Team includes experienced teachers who can answer questions or offer tips. The growth of this group of educators has led to many new opportunities within AITC such as virtual professional development and in-person events around the state.
While every student may not become a farmer, every student does deserve the chance to learn where their food, fiber and fuel comes from. With Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, teachers can provide this opportunity to their students with minimal extra effort and the confidence they are setting their students up for success. As the program continues to adapt to the needs of classrooms there is no telling how far it can grow, and that is something to celebrate.
Wittrock is a student at UW-River Falls majoring in Agriculture Education and served as a 2025-2026 AITC Educator Ambassador.
The post Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom: A Tool for All Teachers appeared first on Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.