News

IL Ag in the Classroom ready for new school year

The new school year is bringing the message of agriculture to students across the state.

Kevin Daugherty, education director with Illinois Ag in the Classroom, says their coordinators have hit the ground running.

“89 of the 102 counties actually have a paid staff person that coordinates the efforts and go in and do teacher training, as well as student presentations,” he says.

He tells Brownfield those presentations bring a connection to agriculture.

“That’s the continued goal.  To make sure they understand all those things that corn growers are talking about, from ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel,” he says, “those are things that we’re working on as we reflect on what students need to know.”

Daugherty says the program serves all grade levels because…

“For so many out of sight, out of mind.”  He says, “It’s easy to get that way. So how do we make agriculture relevant to everyone and make sure they understand that it’s always around them?”

He says Illinois Ag in the Classroom reached over 600,000 students in 60% of the state’s school buildings in 2023. 

AUDIO: Kevin Daugherty – Illinois Ag in the Classroom