TEXAS NEIGHBORS | FALL 2019 2019 OPINION Cultivate an understanding of agriculture Chocolate milk comes from brown cows. All farmers wear overalls. And big farms are bad. Those food and farm myths are abundant—online and in the classroom, leaving all of us a little confused. That’s why agriculture deserves a place in all classrooms and in all teach-ing styles—from elementary to high school and even in college. Each grade offers something. In elementary, students learn how to read and write and how to do simple math problems. They study science. These subjects are the foundation of our public education system, helping to shape a balanced education. In high school, subjects get tougher and problems get more difficult to solve. In college, curriculum is more specialized to the career track stu-dents have chosen to pursue. By Russell Boening But oftentimes, agricultural information is missing from those classes President unless it’s an agricultural science course. Texas Farm Bureau That’s part of the reason many students don’t always understand where our food comes from or how agriculture touches each of us daily. As the number of farmers and ranchers continues to shrink and the population continues to rise, there’s a growing gap of students without any connection to agriculture. That often leads to misinfor-mation, false images and inaccurate stories—often portraying agriculture in a negative light. And that has shifted our perception. But what if every student had the ability to discover the exciting world of agriculture in every grade? Engaging students—young and older—about where their food and fiber comes from could have a big impact. Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) does its part in helping to engage and expand young minds through the Ag in the Classroom program, which provides instructional materials and lesson plans for students in grades 1-6. TFB’s school visit program also offers the chance for students to plant a seed and watch it grow. And the Learning from the Ground Up program provides a way for students to take learning outside of the classroom by establishing or improving school gardens or greenhouses. It’s the exciting world of agriculture right at their fingertips! Teachers can even get hands-on learning with agricultural concepts through the Summer Agricul-tural Institute. Another option? Ask farmers and ranchers to come to the classroom. What better way to learn about farming than from the people who grow our food, fiber and fuel! Agriculture has a place in reading, writing, history, math and science. Help students plant the seed of agricultural understanding. Nurture it. Watch them grow. And harvest the rewards—a better under-standing of Texas agriculture and sharing that knowledge with others. Vol. 84, No. 4 Fall 2019 TEXAS NEIGHBORS is published quarterly by the Texas Farm Bureau, 7420 Fish Pond Road, Waco, Texas 76710, (254) 772-3030. Subscription price to Farm Bureau members is included in annual membership dues. The Texas Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in TEXAS NEIGHBORS . For information on advertising, contact: Advertising Coordinator KELLY BOGARD 254.751.2420 Publication Co-op TIMES CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS 800.442.3276 Texas Farm Bureau website: http:/ /www.texasfarmbureau.org Texas Table Top blog: http:/ /tabletop.texasfarmbureau.org PRESIDENT Russell Boening, Poth VICE PRESIDENT Mark R. Chamblee, Tyler SECRETARY-TREASURER Scott Frazier, Chapman Ranch EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO Si Cook COMPTROLLER Cyndi Gerik BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark R. Chamblee, Tyler Mark Daniel, Seymour John Paul Dineen III, Waxahachie Mickey Edwards, Lampasas Scott Frazier, Chapman Ranch Walt Hagood, Wolfforth Larry W. Joiner, Huntington Allen Kaminski, Sealy Pat D. McDowell, Shamrock Pete Pawelek, Poteet Jessica Richmond, De Leon Val Stephens, Lamesa Zachary X. Yanta, Runge American agriculture is a part of us all. Gene Hall —Publisher Julie Tomascik —Editor Jennifer Dorsett —Field Editor Justin Walker —Communications Specialist Gary Joiner —TFB Radio Network Manager Jessica Domel —Multimedia Reporter Cindy Wennin —Graphic Designer Angela Lujan —Graphic Designer WWW.TEXASFARMBUREAU.ORG