Five educators from Oklahoma elementary schools were honored during the Flapjack Fundraiser for the Bushels for Books program at the Cox Convention Center on Saturday, November 12. During the event, the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers awarded five Oklahoma educators with bushel baskets of accurate agriculture books to be used in their classrooms and school libraries.
“We are thrilled to award these outstanding educators with resources to help them include agriculture in their classroom curriculum,” said Jeramy Rich, Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation president.
Applications were accepted from elementary educators across the state.
Mr. Nathan Akehurst, fourth-grade teacher at Heritage IGC in Coweta, will use the books in his classroom in conjunction with a classroom vegetable garden as he helps his students learn about agriculture through hands on experiences.
Ms. Lindsay Headlee, librarian for Cherokee Elementary School in Cherokee, believes agriculture is an essential part of our nation’s past, present and future. She will make the books available in the school library and will share them with elementary teachers to use in their classroom curriculum.
Ms. Cheryl Hyde, title 1 reading specialist for Lexington Elementary in Lexington, will use the books in her reading classroom and in conjunction with Elementary Ag Day at Lexington Elementary to help both students and teachers learn more about Oklahoma agriculture.
Ms. Sarah Johnston, library media specialist for Ida Freeman Elementary in Edmond, will use the books in both the library and school classrooms to teach students about agricultural machinery, crops and livestock and the impact agriculture has on their everyday lives.
Ms. Shelley Wall, library media specialist for Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee, will use the books in the school library to help students to learn the processes of how food gets to their tables and career opportunities available in agriculture.
The Bushels for Books program takes donated bushels of any commodity crop as well as monetary donations from Oklahoma farmers and provides accurate agriculture books to Oklahoma elementary schools. For more information on the program, please visit www.okfarmingandranchingfoundation.org or contact Amanda Rosholt at amanda.rosholt@aggiving.org or (405) 202-1463.
The Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation was formed in 2011 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit to enhance awareness and understanding of agriculture’s contribution and importance to the state of Oklahoma. Through educational and social programs for citizens of all ages, the Foundation aims to help Oklahomans understand the positive impact agriculture has on the state and the importance of protecting it for future generations. From promoting and assisting beginning farmers and ranchers to educating youth interested in agricultural pursuits, the foundation creates agricultural awareness.
