January is the time for resolutions, goal setting and fresh starts therefore I thought it would be a great time to focus on water quality. All month long, students are exploring ways in which we can save, clean and restore fresh bodies of water. Water is essential to life. Without water; plants, animals and humans would cease to exist. We would not be able to wash clothes, boil pasta, or go swimming. Water is important to living things but it is also necessary to live out our daily lives. Students of all ages are participating in water quality lessons. Kindergarten students are discovering ways in which we use water both on and off the farm. They are beginning to understand how important water is to us and how we might be able to keep from wasting. First grade students are learning about the weather wheel to grasp how rain, wind, storms, etc. play a role in how farmers grow and raise our food. Third and fourth grade students are reading Iowa Ag Today magazines to learn about different practices farmers use to help keep water clean. High school students are diving into water quality with an IALF lesson called Watershed Decisions. Students begin by examining simulated water samples taken from the Cedar River Watershed. A watershed is an area that drains to a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, wetland or even the ocean. By looking at the samples and reading possible improvement methods, students could choose four methods they would implement to improve water quality in the Cedar River Watershed District. January is a great time to stop and reflect... how are we doing? Are we reaching our goals? And are we dedicated to improving water quality? Water is important to everyone- something we all have in common. Let's work together to improve it! Contact Morgan Hibbs at mhibbs@ifbf.org to schedule a visit today.

Over 3,000 7th grade students from Linn and Benton County attended the STEM II Institute hosted by Kirkwood Community College's Workplace Learning Connection Center at the Kirkwood Regional Center in Hiawatha. Students had the opportunity to explore a variety of STEM careers including careers in agriculture. Morgan Hibbs, Linn County Farm Bureau and Shelby Shaefers, Buchanan and Delaware County Farm Bureau, co-hosted a workshop called STEM, AG and EDUCATION. Over 240 students attended the twelve time-slots between two available days throughout the four day institute. During the 25 minute session, students discovered how agriculture impacts their everyday lives, explored the diversity of careers in agriculture and became an "expert" in a certain career which they then shared during one minute conversations with fellow classmates. Students were engaged and genuinely curious about the importance of agriculture. Thank you Workplace Learning Connection for inviting us to present! What a wonderful experience!

Good afternoon! Today I had a blast presenting a National Ag in the Classroom (NAITC) lesson called Stacking up Milk and Milk Substitutes to a class of junior high students at Prairie Point. I was familiar with most of the milk substitutes available to us but I was unfamiliar with the taste of coconut and rice milk. I enjoyed walking around and hearing what the students had to say about the look, taste and smell of each milk. To begin, we asked the following questions; where does milk come from, what is the definition of milk, what products are made with milk, and what kinds of milk can we buy from the grocery store? Students then had the opportunity to compare and contrast five samples of milk (whole, rice, almond, coconut, and soy milk) based on taste, nutritional value and route from farm-to-plate. Students discovered that there are many milk substitutes for those who have a milk allergy, don’t like the taste or choose not to consume dairy products but they also learned that the nutrition value varies from milk to milk meaning they can’t be 100% interchangeable. Consumer trends show increased sales of plant-based milk substitutes between 2009 and 2015. Students discussed the possible reasons for the increase. We wrapped up the lesson with a question to ponder; does the word milk, a white fluid rich in fat and protein secreted by female mammals, mislead consumers if labeled on a plant-based substitute? And would we view the drink differently if it was labeled juice or beverage? #FoodForThought! Contact Morgan at mhibbs@ifbf.org to schedule a visit.

I feel gratitude as I sit down to write. I owe our Ag in the Classroom success and growth to each and everyone of you! Teaching agriculture is such a passion of mine and I am honored to share the wonders of our industry with all of your students. I am excited to introduce the following social studies Thanksgiving lessons and I encourage you to incorporate agriculture into your curriculum this week and throughout the rest of November. What is agriculture? Other Ag in the Classroom Coordinators and myself pondered that same question during our annual fall training. I usually describe agriculture as our FOOD, FIBER and FUEL but it is so much more than that. One AITC Coordinator described agriculture as EVERYTHING and at first I thought... EVERYTHING is a little drastic but as I began to process...EVERYTHING begins as a plant, animal or natural resource. Products we use have to come from somewhere, don't they? Just a little food for thought! This month we had fun learning about turkeys, corn harvest and machines in agriculture! Here is look at our most recent classroom visits. Okay the moment you all have been waiting for... THANKSGIVING LESSONS 1. The Geography of Thanksgiving Dinner: (age range 6-8) In this lesson students will identify common Thanksgiving foods and their farm source, determine if those foods can be produced locally, and locate the common origins of their Thanksgiving day dinner. 2. Serious Cereal Science: (age range 6-8) Students will develop an appreciation for the extensive materials and career fields provided by agriculture, specifically as related to cereal grain production, processing, and consumption. Activities include playing a game in which students become agronomy specialists, mapping the top grain-producing states, and watching videos about careers related to grain production. 3. Rafter of Turkey: (age range 3-5) Students will learn about the domestication and life cycle of the turkey, recognize how turkeys are raised on farms, and identify turkey products. 4. Farm Machines-Then and Now: (age range 3-5) To learn about history, culture, and innovation in agriculture by comparing old and new farm tools, machines and methods used to plant, harvest, and store corn. 5. Animal Life Cycles: (age range K-2) This lesson introduces students to six major livestock species, teaches that animals need air, space, food, water, and shelter to survive, and introduces students to the life cycle of a farm animal. 6. Farming through the Seasons: (age range K-2) Students will learn about differences in seasons through the lens of what farmers do in each season. Remember to be thankful for all that is provided by the amazing people in agriculture so that we may have food on our fork! Happy Thanksgiving from Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach

We partnered with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Linn County to develop a fun fall curriculum kit for 3rd-5th grade classrooms. Learn all about harvesting from local Iowa farmers. The kit includes a flash drive with three pre-recorded FarmChats®; lessons that cover corn, soybean, pumpkin, apple, hay and straw harvest; games; activities and product samples. Here is a photo SNEAK PEAK of our hay/straw FarmChat® with Rick Ball. This particular interview was special because it was with my dad at our family farm in Tiffin. Check out the kit to learn about the differences between hay and straw and how they serve two unique purposes. The Harvest Kit is a great way to incorporate agriculture into the Iowa Core Standards. The following lessons are included in each kit. 1. The story of apple production 2. Pumpkins aren't just for carving 3. Exciting adventures with corn 4. Machines in agriculture 5. Beef basics 6. Home on the range Each lesson complements the virtual farm tour and will include samples for the students to observe. Harvest FarmChat® kits are available per teacher request. Sign up here... but act fast! We have limited number of kits. Email Morgan Ball at mball@ifbf.org with questions.

It is National Farm Safety and Health Week. With only 2% of Americans involved in production agriculture you might be wondering how farm safety affects you, but the following topics; road, ATV, chemical, and sun safety precautions are concerns for both urban and rural communities. According to Health Research Funding, "25% of fatalities that have occurred on four-wheelers happened to children who were younger than 16 years of age." A USDA survey shows there are 86,900 farms in Iowa, meaning there are thousands of farmers driving tractors on the road. Did you know, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 (Skin Cancer Foundation)? As you can see, farm safety week can help bring awareness to safety tips that benefit all of us! Road Safety: September is a busy time for farmers as they get ready to harvest. Beware that the number of tractors, semi-trucks and combines you see on the road will increase. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind... 1. Slow down 2. Stay back 3. Always pass on the left 4. Use turn signal when passing 5. Never crowd ATV Safety: Four-wheelers aren't just used for farm chores. We see more and more ATVs being bought for weekend trips, hunting and recreational activities. Remember to always follow the safety instructions listed in the manual and review the following tips with your kids. 1. Wear protective gear (helmets, gloves, glasses) 2. Don't ride alone 3. Only ride where there is a seat 4. Be aware of your surroundings 5. Always inspect your ATV Chemical Safety: We use chemicals daily to clean our house, fertilize the garden, and wax the car. It is important to review chemical safety for home, school and the farm. Adults: 1. Always label the chemical 2. Store in appropriate place 3. Follow temperature directions 4. Keep out of reach 5. Clean up after use Children: 1. Never put unknown items in your mouth 2. Only use with adult permission 3. Review what to do in case of an emergency Sun Safety: Sun care is a great reminder for all of us. According to the Sun Cancer Foundation, "about 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers and about 86 percent of melanomas are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun." Review the following tips... 1. Apply sunscreen even on a shady day 2. Purchase UV sunglasses 3. Wear a hat and appropriate clothing 4. Drink lots of water 5. Move to the shade when exposed to sun for long periods of time Let's "cultivate the seeds of safety (2018 National Farm Safety and Health theme)" by reviewing farm and health safety tips this week.

National Read a Book Day is September 6, 2018! I plan to celebrate with the current book I am reading called "The Apartment." It takes place in New York City where 4 friends are pursuing individual start-up careers. I have a feeling it will be one I can't put down! How do you plan to celebrate? I encourage you to consider reading an accurate agriculture book to your students. And I highlight accurate because there are so many wonderful books available that portray REAL photographs and stories of how our food is grown and raised. I have compiled a few of my favorites below. How Did that Get in My Lunch Box? Takes a look at the steps involved in producing some of our common foods we would include in our school lunch box. Great for grades K-3. John Deere That's Who: Takes us back to the early days when John Deere changed history by inventing the steel plow. Great for ages 2nd-5th. Seed, Soil and Sun: This great book walks us through Earth's recipe for food. Written for ages K-3rd. Sleep Tight Farm: Follows one family's journey to preparing for winter on the farm. Great for K-2nd. Time for Cranberries: Is a fun read for all ages! From a bog to the Thanksgiving table, Time for Cranberries walks us through how to harvest the delicious fruit! Share with us through Facebook or by emailing mball@ifbf.org a picture of your class reading an agriculture book and you may just be featured in the local pages of the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman! Happy National Read a Book Day!

Who is excited for school to start back up? We are! Year two will begin with new topics, updated lessons and diverse activities. Our monthly September lessons will introduce the term agriculture. Students will engage in hands-on activities as they explore the basics of where our food comes from. Here is a list of our September lessons by grade: Pre-school: Apple orchards Students will explore apples, apple trees and the life cycle of an apple orchard through literature and hands-on activities to better understand plants and how they provide for us. Kindergarten: How to grow a pizza Students will learn about the sources and healthfulness of several common pizza ingredients. First: My Life Box Students will explore what all living things need in order to survive through the creation of a life box. Second: Hungry Caterpillar Students will begin to understand common agricultural products through a favorite childhood story, Hungry Caterpillar. Third: Sand, Silt and Clay Students will conduct an experiment to observe soil particle size. Fourth: Soil Students will partake in a three-part series about soil. In lesson one, students will identify the components of soil and demonstrate that soil contains air and water. Lesson two will help determine the water holding capacity of different soils and investigate how organic matter affects the amount of water a soil will hold and in lesson three students will begin to comprehend the importance of soil and how erosion plays a role in moving soil. Fifth: Keeping Soil in it's place Students will be able to demonstrate a rain drop splash and determine it's impact on bare soil, ultimately being able to visually identify types of erosion. Middle and High School: Middle and high school lessons will vary from class to class. Be sure to inquire about our one-time water quality, conservation, soil erosion, GMOs, and chemistry lessons. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.linncoag.com/newsletter to receive information in your mailbox about updates, upcoming events, blog posts and new lessons. Experience agriculture in your own classroom by contacting Morgan Ball at mball@ifbf.org for more information.

How is a grain bin built? First, what is a grain bin? Bins are vented, silver, steel structures fatter in diameter than silos and have varying heights (google definition). Silos, often blue, were traditionally used to store silage. Silo comes from the Greek word "siros" pit for holding grain. Think about the life-cycle of a corn plant. Farmers plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. Did you know less than 1% of corn grown in Iowa is sweet corn? Majority of the corn grown is called dent corn. Lots of corn is used to feed livestock but corn is also used to make ethanol (fuel our cars) and consumable food. But farmers do not always sell their grain right away. Corn reaches maturity in the fall. The leaves begin to turn brown and the corn dries in the fields. Technology in the combine tells a farmer what the moisture level is per bushel. Grain should have a moisture content between 10 and 15 percent. If the grain is too wet, it may get moldy. If the grain is harvested before it reaches the ideal moisture level, farmers can dry the corn in a grain bin. Farmers use technology to make decisions. Depending on the moisture percentage, they can store, dry or sell. Waiting to sell can have advantages. The prices of grain may fluctuate throughout the year with supply and demand. But how is a grain bin built? Well, the construction crew begins by pouring the cement and within a few days the roof is built. From there, the crew supports the structure on the outside as they raise it up and add panels to the bottom layer, building from the roof down. This time-lapse video was taken over a span of 8 working days by Welu Construction. It is pretty amazing how quickly the crew can work! Remember grain bin safety! A bridge across the top of a grain bin can collapse under your weight; never enter a bin without taking necessary precautions to protect yourself. Be sure to ask about our grain lessons today! Image and caption source: National Ag Safety Database Grain Moisture Lesson Content: Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation Video: Welu Construction Grain bin photos: Johnson County, Iowa

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach- Linn County (ISUEO-Linn County) invited youth to participate in Farm to Fork local summer day camps. Two different camps were held for K-2 and 3-5 youth. The camp "From Farm to Fork: Plant Detectives" was geared towards Kindergarten through 2nd grade and was held at Lowe Park, July 10; Wakema Park, July 12; and Wickiup Hill, July 16. Students were plant detectives for the day as they learned the amazing benefits of growing food. Youth learned how to grow and start their own seeds to take home and enjoyed making fresh salsa. The camp "From Farm to Fork: Food and Agriculture Connections" was open to youth between 3rd and 5th grade and was held at Lowe Park on July 17th. Youth investigated the adventure of food from seed to the kitchen. They discovered how plants grow and how far they travel. Students explored how to make their own delicious snacks from scratch. Camps allowed for collaboration with Linn County Farm Bureau, Linn County Conservation, Linn County Master Gardeners and 4-H Monarchs on the Move Project. Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Coordinator, Morgan Ball, presented during the morning half of the camp with activities that focused on corn and soybean production. Activities for Plant Detectives included seed germination necklaces, mighty soybeans and a life-cycle sequence. And activities for Food and Agriculture Connections focused on by-products. Students discovered corn packing peanuts, corn face paint and nutrition labels. We want to thank ISUEO-Linn County for inviting Linn County Farm Bureau to participate in the Farm to Fork camps. Here is the link for ISUEO-Linn County summer day camps. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/linn/content/4h-day-camps

Happy Monday! Hope you are all had a chance to visit the wonderful Linn County Fair. I had the opportunity to attend Youth and Farm Bureau Day through Ag in the Classroom festivities but I made sure to take time to personally enjoy the fair as well. I have so many fond memories from my time spent in 4-H! Linn County Farm Bureau spent two days focusing on agriculture literacy at the 2018 Linn County Fair. On Thursday, July 28, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. we hosted a “Life Bracelet” activity during youth day. The life bracelet was made with four different color beads, each color representing a plant need; yellow (sun), blue (water), clear (air) and brown (soil). We also shared our Apple Earth with fair-goers. Did you know 3/4 of our Earth is made up of water and only 1/32 of our Earth's surface is suitable for growing crops? Agriculture Literacy is so important and fair is a great chance to interact with the community! Over 500 students walked through the fair on Youth Day! We continued our learning Friday, July 29, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through an interactive trailer with a driving tractor simulator! Youth jumped at the opportunity to disk-harrow or plant. Throughout the day, students could checkout a sample cattle feed ration and compete by answering a “By-products Riddle.” Linn County Farm Bureau also hosted two segments of “Minute it to Win it Farm Edition” at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. where challenges connected everyday by-products to the primary agriculture commodity. Did you miss us at the fair? Be sure to stop and see us next year!

Mount Vernon Kindergarten through Second Grade Students Participate in a week-long Agriculture Inspired Day Camp. Mrs. Dix, a Mount Vernon Elementary teacher and farmer, hosted 15+ students at Washington Elementary for a week-long agriculture inspired day-camp. During the first three days, students participated in a variety of hands-on activities in which Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Program had the opportunity to visit with the students about the dairy industry. I read a book called “Grass to Milk” and assisted with making homemade ice cream. Students explored a new topic each day including dairy, beef and sheep but the highlight was visiting Mrs. Dix’s farm on the last day. With slightly less than two percent of the total number of people in the US living on farms, Mrs. Dix wanted to give a real example of what it is like to live on a farm. Mrs. Dix had the children help feed the lambs and calves. She also explained to the students the difference between hay, straw and cornstalk bales and she walked them through the process of shearing and caring for the sheep. Mrs. Cara Dix hollered, “Who wants to help feed the lambs?” And all at once each students raised their hand and shouted “I do!” The excitement on their faces declared that their day on the farm had officially begun.