Part of the Food Policy Community Spotlight Series
Name: New York Agriculture in the Classroom
What they do:
New York Agriculture in the Classroom is an outreach program of Cornell University in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau. Its goal is to educate students, teachers, and their communities about local food systems and to increase agricultural literacy.
How they do it:
New York Agriculture in the Classroom hosts a number of initiatives both inside and outside the classroom, some of which include educator workshops, virtual field trips, and student challenges. The program also makes teachers aware of tools and resources, including the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix and grants to fund projects, that empower them to introduce agriculture in the classroom. .
Latest project/campaign:
The program, which has been servicing the entire state, has recently created a position to serve teachers in the NYC area. There have been workshops and events at various locations around the city where teachers can learn about and experience urban agriculture and, therefore, feel empowered to teach those concepts to their students. This coming summer, NYC area teachers will be invited to participate in an exciting opportunity to tour farms throughout the state and explore the food system that impacts their daily lives.
Major Funding:
New York Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by the New York State Legislature as a government line-item. The funds are distributed to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and then granted to Cornell to fund the program’s outreach work.
Profit/nonprofit:
Nonprofit, based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University
Annual Budget: $625,000
Interesting fact about how it is working to positively affect the food system:
Through its workshops and other resources, New York Agriculture in the Classroom works hard to shine a light on parts of the food system that teachers don’t often see, thereby helping them to. build their own agricultural literacy so that they, in turn, can educate their students about the source and value of the food they rely on.
FACT SHEET:
Location:
The program works all over New York.
Core Programs: Agricultural Literacy Week, Grow-NY Youth Competition,
Number of staff: 5
Year Started: 1985
Founders: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau
Contact Information: To get in touch, visit the NY AG in the Classroom contact page.
