Teaching Agriculture in Schools

Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau. Its mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how we produce food and fiber, what we eat, and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems. 

Visit the NY Ag in the Classroom to learn more about statewide activities and to learn about agriculture-themed books that have been featured in other years.

NY Ag Literacy Week: March 17-21, 2025

In celebration of New York Agriculture, NY Ag in the Classroom is coordinating the 21st Annual NY Agriculture Literacy Week, taking place March 17-21, 2025. This program is open to Elementary School Administrators, Educators, and those running community programs for groups of 1st-3rd graders.

The selected book is The Pie That Molly Grew, written by Sue Heavenrich.

How Does Agriculture Literacy Week Work?

Educators / Volunteers throughout the state will read the selected book to elementary age students and engage the youth in a paired hands-on activity related to the book. This year AITC will be providing a hard copy of the book, as well as a strawberry lifecycle activity for each child! The book will be donated to the school or classroom library. One activity kit provides enough supplies for 30 students.

Start to finish, the reading and activity in the classroom takes approximately 45 minutes.

When you register for this program, you will have the following options:

• Requesting a reader to come to your classroom (in-person or virtually) to read the book and conduct the activity (the reader will fill out the reporting form)
• Picking up a paper copy of the book and the activity kit. If you choose to pick up the book and kit, you must pick them up from the Farm & Home Center in Millbrook, NY on one of the dates below with the completed reporting form in hand: March 12th (4-6pm) or 15th (10am-12pm)

Please click here to register:

We hope that your school or educational program will participate in this opportunity. Please reach out by email if you have any questions or concerns to elj57@cornell.edu

Become a Volunteer Reader

Educators / volunteers throughout New York will visit local elementary schools during Ag Literacy Week to read the selected book to students and engage the youth in a paired hands-on activity. This year AITC will be providing a hard copy of the book, as well as a planting kit for each child! At the conclusion of the day's activities, the book will be donated to the school library for students and teachers to use throughout the school year. One planting kit provides enough supplies for 30 students. The reading and activity in the classroom takes approximately 45 minutes.

Please click here to register as a volunteer.

Last updated April 10, 2025