Welcome to our first week of virtual learning! We are in a difficult but temporary season and for the foreseeable future we will be learning online. While this can seem daunting, we hope these resources will be easy to use and educational! Each week we will introduce a new theme on our Linn County Facebook page with a read-aloud book, activity sheets (downloads available on our website), STEM activity and video. Themes include; pizza, pollinators, beef, transportation, pork, farmers market, wheat, planting, careers, and sustainability. First week: PIZZA! We would love to see your participation! Share your photos with us by posting them in the comments section or by emailing them to mhibbs@ifbf.org. Additional resources: Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation: Online activities for grades K-5 and 6-12! Flat Aggie Adventures: Flat Aggie Adventures is a six-month newsletter series geared towards a 3rd-5th grade reading level. Newsletter content meets both literacy and science Iowa Core Standards. Flat Aggie visits the different stages in the life-cycle of dairy and pork. FarmChat: We are still offering FarmChats! Take your students on a virtual field trip by scheduling a visit and sharing the link with your students! We will also be conducting a few live FarmChats on our Facebook page! Podcast: Welcome to Outstanding in their Field, a podcast that celebrates the people who grow food and those who teach about it.

National Ag Week is celebrated March 23rd-March 28th. Why celebrate ag week? Iowa is a leading producer of agriculture products and roughly only 2% of Iowans live on a farm. Our students are becoming generationally removed from the farm and yet we all interact with agriculture 100+ times a day. Agriculture provides us with our basic needs; food, clothing, and shelter! Agriculture provides local connections to math, science and social studies concepts. By offering agriculture in the classroom we can create real-world STEM opportunities. The National Agriculture Literacy Themes align with 90 Iowa Core science standards. National Agriculture Literacy Themes: 1. Agriculture & the Environment 2. Plants & Animals for Food, Fiber & Energy 3. Food, Health & Lifestyle 4. Culture, Society, Economy & Geography 5. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics How can you participate in National Ag Week? 1. Read an ag book: 2. Share your ag story on social media and use the following hashtags: #LinnCoAg #TeachAg #NationalAgWeek 3. Include an ag lesson in your spring curriculum! I shared six engaging lessons on our Facebook page. Lessons are easy to set up and include minimal supplies! Email mhibbs@ifbf.org for more information. 4. Schedule a spring FarmChat. 5. Enjoy seven fun facts about agriculture! Take a screen-shot and share it with your students and on social media!

There is warmth in the air, we have seeds germinating in the classroom and hatching applications have been submitted; must mean spring is almost here! March is by far my favorite month of the year... we begin with my birthday (March 9th) continue with the first day of spring (March 19th) and conclude with National Ag Week (March 22nd-28th). For those of you who didn't know, I am a twin. This year is a pretty big birthday for us, the big 25! Some people might think it is a bummer to share a birthday with a sibling but I think it is a blast. It is so fun to celebrate with someone that is equally excited as you. I like to say that our birthday is not so much a day but a week. Anyone else love their birthday? A whole day dedicated to you? ITS AWESOME! I get to choose where we eat, what kind of cake (usually ice cream) and the activity. Last year we went dancing and Megan got engaged. I am not sure how we can top that but we will certainly try! The first day of spring is March 19th! Our cows will begin calving here in the next month or two. it is always fun to see babies running around in the pasture. Spring is also the time we start our flower seed indoors. We will plant our small seedlings into the sun warmed soil in just a few short months. Just like the farm, Ag in the Classroom programming is picking up! Our upcoming scheduled is full with spring monthly lessons, plant units, hatching, Pizz-A-Thon and Ag in the Park! We celebrate National Ag Week March 22nd through the 28th. Why celebrate? Agriculture is a great way to provide real-world examples that meet science and social studies standards. Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach serves as a local resource for educators who want to teach about agriculture. Iowa is a leading producer of agriculture products and yet only 2% of Americans live on a farm and as consumers and producers we need to lessen the gap. We hope you join in on the fun! Follow us on Facebook to participate! We will be posting quick ag activities, jokes and fun facts all week long!

I had so much fun planning this Agriculture Pringle Challenge and I think the students had even more fun competing in it! On Wednesday, February 5th I presented to a 3rd and 4th grade classroom at Summit School! The purpose of our lesson was to learn about different modes of agriculture transportation and packaging. Agricultural commodities are transported in a variety of different ways. Transportation is the movement of people or goods from one place to another and in this lesson, students will explore how our food gets from the farm to the grocery store. Agricultural commodities can be transported by land, sea and air. Farmers, transporters and agribusiness personnel must consider packaging and how the products will safely arrive at their next destination. Students designed their own package for a pringle chip. They used the engineering process to build and test different designs for their durability and protection. Materials: -1 can of Pringles - Pickles to Pittsburgh, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball 2 story written by Judi Barrett - Cardstock paper - Newspaper - Cardboard - Coffee filters - Rubber bands - Cotton - Paper cups - Tape - Scissors Links: CGB video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwpqc-ifSw Banana video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqHMKj04WQ0 We began the lesson by reading the book Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett. I followed up the story by asking the students to name different forms of transportation they observed. We discussed how farmers, transporters and agribusiness personnel must also think about packaging, food safety, processing and labeling. We then watched the CGB, Consolidated Grain and Barge, video. I asked the students to brainstorm the differences between the story and video. How do perishable and non-perishable items differ in packaging and transportation? How do packages look different? Why are there different packages? I instructed the students to engineer a package for their Pringle that would withstand two challenges: 1. dropping it from the top of a chair and 2. dropping a book on it. The group with the fewest broken pieces wins! The Agriculture Pringle Challenge is a combination of a National Agriculture in the Classroom lesson; By Land, Sea, or Air and a project I did in Mrs. Harken's seventh grade science class. For more information email Morgan Hibbs at mhibbs@ifbf.org.

Have you read our latest Flat Aggie series? Flat Aggie Adventures is a six month newsletter series geared towards a 3rd-5th grade reading level. Newsletter content meets both literacy and science Iowa Core Standards. Flat Aggie visits the different stages in the life-cycle of a dairy herd, along with talking about nutrition, and so much more! Issue #1: Past, Present, and Future Flat Aggie gives us a look into the past, present and future. The Lindsay Dairy LLC began the farm with a four stall parallel milking parlor. The average farmer in the 1950's could milk 100 cows in two-three hours. Today the Lindsay Dairy LLC milks 290 cows with a milking parlor that holds 16 cows at a time. Click on the link below to learn how technology has made dairy farming more efficient. Issue #2: Reproduction Did you know there are multiple breeds of dairy cattle? Flat Aggie is taking us on a tour of a Holstein (leading milk producer) dairy farm but just like breeds of dogs, breeds of cows are unique in size, shape, color and characteristics. Flat Aggie explains that similar to our family tree, a dairy cow or bull will pass on their traits to their calves. This is through a practice called heredity and we can study what traits the calf will have by examining the cow or bulls genetics. Flat Aggie breeds cows to be strong, high milk producing and docile (well behaved). Flat Aggie gave us and inside look into the technology she uses to help identify which cows are ready for breeding. Issue #3: Calving Dairy cows are mammals, which means they provide milk to their young and give birth to live babies. Flat Aggie guides us through how farmers care for the cow and calf. Learn about the differences in nutrition, housing, and identification. Issue #4: Cow Nutrition Dairy cows are ruminant mammals, meaning they have a complex digestive system consisting of four chambers in their stomach. Ruminant animals can turn grass and other plant materials into energy for fueling their bodies. Flat Aggie demonstrates how to mix feed with a TMR Mixer. Technology helps Flat Aggie know how many pounds of each feedstuff to add to the mixer. Keep reading to explore what a farmer feeds their cows to keep them healthy and happy. Issue #5: Milking Flat Aggie helps during morning milking and learns a lot about sanitation. Dairy cows are milked twice a day in the milk parlor. Sanitation is important because it helps prevent the spread of bacteria and keeps the milk safe for consumers. Click on the link below to learn more! Issue #6: Human Nutrition Dairy is listed as one of our five food groups. Consuming dairy products is a great way to provide the necessary nutrients needed for your body. Milk is a primary source of calcium. Calcium is used in building bones, teeth and bone mass. Also found in milk is potassium and vitamin D, which helps with blood pressure and building and maintaining bones. Flat Aggie demonstrates how the milk travels from the creamery to the grocery! Ways to utilize Flat Aggie Adventures: 1. Print and have students write and highlight key points. 2. Print and laminate for multiple uses. 3. Keep the newsletter in online format and send to the students or display it in front of the class. Ways to integrate Flat Aggie into your curriculum: 1. Guided reading time 2. Morning bell ringer 3. Science time 4. Individual reading time 5. Research project Discussion topics for integration: 1. Identify the STEM careers involved with raising dairy cows. 2. Discuss how advances in agriculture have changed production over time. 3. Explore supply and demand and how it relates to our dairy industry. 4. Ask students to identify key ideas. 5. Discover the different stages in the life-cycle of a dairy cow. To download Flat Aggie Adventures: Dairy Series, visit: https://www.linncoag.com/flat-aggie-adventures!

Good afternoon! It is January 15th, 2020 and schools were delayed. Sounds like more snow and ice might be coming this weekend. I think it is safe to say that winter is officially here! Meanwhile in the classroom... we are dreaming of warmer weather! January is the perfect time for resolutions, fresh starts, and goals. For the last two years I have taught soil and water quality lessons following Christmas break, with the intention that students will begin to think about their environment and how each and every one of them can play a role in agriculture! January lessons: Pre-school and kindergarten: Life bracelets- Students will explore what all living things need in order to survive through the creation of a life bracelet (blue-water, yellow-sun, brown-soil, clear-air). First: John Deere that's Who- Students will use the art of soil painting to explore science and the natural world while learning about the importance of soil to agriculture, and why soils have different colors. Second: Sleep tight Farm- Cover crops help provide protection for soil while other crops are not growing on it. In this activity students learn about germination, growth, root structures, and conservation practices by making a cover crop monster and helping it grow. Third, Fourth and Fifth: Watersheds- We all live in a watershed, the area that drains to a common waterway; such as a stream, lake, wetland, aquifer, or even the ocean. Students will learn that our individual actions can directly affect it. In today's post we are going to focus on soil paint! Agriculture is a great way to provide real-world connections and what better way to learn about soil than from John Deere himself? We begin each soil paint lesson with the story John Deere that's Who. The story takes place in 1836, John Deere decides to settle in Illinois but soon discovers that the soil is very different than it was in the east. Farmers are frustrated, their plows keep breaking from the "gumbo" like clay soil. They were used to sandy soil. Some farmers even talked about heading back home. John knew he had to do something and set his mind to building a better plow. Students were surprised to discover that John Deere invented the singing plow and other horse-drawn equipment. We reviewed the story and concluded the lesson by making soil paint! Each student received a small cup of soil. I bought the soils kit from National Agriculture in the Classroom. I asked the students to observe the color and texture. We then mixed the soil with glue and water until it was a paint like consistency. Students noticed that the tan soil was thick and sticky like the clay soil; the red and/or white was loose like sand; and the brown was in between. Supplies: 1. Soil 2. Glue 3. Water 4. Cup 5. Spoon 6. Q-Tip 7. Coloring sheet Steps: 1. Read John Deere that's Who 2. Mix paint (equal parts soil and glue, add a splash of water until mixture is the consistency of paint) 3. Paint coloring sheet with Q-tip 4. HAVE FUN! Request the whole lesson plan by emailing Morgan Hibbs at mhibbs@ifbf.org.

Oak Ridge Middle School LEGO Blasters, a FIRST LEGO League team in Marion, Iowa will compete for the Global Innovation Award at the state championship on January 19th at Iowa State University for their innovative solution to eutrophication in Iowa lakes. Eutrophication is when a body of water becomes enriched with minerals and nutrients which results in an excess growth of algae. According to the website, “FIRST LEGO League is an international program designed to get children interested an excited about science, technology and engineering. Each year there is a new challenge that engages the teams in hands-on robotics design and scientific research.” Participants range from nine to fourteen years old. Members, Ethank Norris, Rishitha Gadde, Tanvi Gopalam, Kaleb Wesselink, Kyle Langston, Nithin John, Isaac Schneider and Nolan Carney, set out to improve recreational lakes and waterways in Iowa. Students interviewed; Iowa State University Professor, Adina Howe; Coe College Professor, Martin St. Clair; retired Linn County farmer Curt Zingula; and Morgan Hibbs, Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Coordinator to learn about the conservation practices currently being used to mitigate the spread of nutrient pollution that feeds cyanobacteria. Students learned that many of the conservation practices including; cover crops, saturated buffers, bio-reactor, etc., are expensive and difficult to get started. Many farmers are implementing conservation practices on their farms, but the students felt like more could be done. Enter RADFarms, the student’s proposed solution. According to the Oak Ridge LEGO Blasters, RADFarms will target the two-week period right before an algal bloom is predicted. Using a DNA test designed by Professor Howe, RADFarms will be able to pinpoint when to add large numbers of microorganisms called rotifers and diatoms to the affected body of water, with the idea that the microorganisms would eat the cyanobacteria and prevent the release of microcystin toxins that cause hypoxia and dead zones. After the cyanobacteria are consumed, the rotifer and diatom level in the waterways would fall back to normal levels because the food source would have been eliminated. The rotifers and diatoms would be bred in pools similar to a fish hatchery. The Department of Natural Resources, cities and farmers could order them to add to their affected lakes.” Their proposed solution is designed to be targeted, inexpensive, non-invasive, and eco-friendly. It would shift the burden of nutrient pollution from farmers alone and onto taxpayers and recreational waterway users. If Oak Ridge LEGO Blasters are nominated to continue at state, they will apply to attend the international GIA competition, which is being held at Epcot in June 2020.

Good afternoon! I was so excited when Jamie and Teressa asked if I would come talk with their middle school students about organic and conventional farming. National Agriculture in the Classroom has a wonderful lesson called "What's the Difference? A Look at Organic vs Conventional Food." In the lesson, students compare and contrast organic vs conventional produced foods to discover the differences and similarities of each farm production style. I began the visit by asking the students to write down a question. The question could be about safety, nutrition, growing techniques, ethics, etc. I was very impressed with their questions! Here are a few of their questions: -Is organic food more expensive? -What is the difference between organic and conventional? -Are GMOs ethical? -Which is healthier? -Is conventional food safe to eat? I left their questions unanswered. It was my hope that they would discover the answers for themselves throughout our experiment. Next, I passed out plates divided with labels A and B. I gave each students samples of organic (A) and conventional (B) fruit and vegetables. I asked the students to fill-out a chart comparing the size, shape, color, appearance, and taste. Lastly, I asked them to guess which side, A or B, was organic and conventional and why. My goal was to help the students realize that nutrition and taste remain the same for both conventional and organic. An organic roma tomato is going to look and taste the same as a conventional roma tomato and the calorie and nutrients are going to be the same. The only difference is the method of farming. For example, looking at the kiwi (above) and apples (below), I can't tell you which is organic and which is conventional without seeing A or B written on the plate. The only difference between these examples is the techniques used during planting, growing and harvesting. A few students noticed a slight difference in the appearance and taste but that was most likely due to different varieties, packaging or processing, and stage of ripening. The major difference lies in production practices. A conventional farmer can use genetically modified seed, synthetic fertilizer, and pesticides. Organic farmers cannot use genetically modified seed and have fewer options for fertilizer and pesticides. Both practices are required to follow food safety regulations. Today conventional farmers produces majority of our food but organic farmers plays an important role. We need all types of farmers to feed our growing communities. Click on the video below to learn more about the practices of both organic and conventional farmers! Checkout the following links to learn more: What is in the name? GMOS: https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/whats-in-a-name-gmos/ The problem with GMOs: https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/the-problem-with-gmos/ How to "Look under the Label": https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2019/03/13/how-to-look-under-the-label/ Why do they do that? https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/why-do-they-do-that-farmers-applying-chemicals/ Organic vs Conventional: https://www.watchusgrow.org/2018/02/02/organic-vs-conventional-farming-whats-the-same-whats-different/ Organic vs Conventional Infographic: Thank you for reading! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Remember...it is such a blessing to have choices at the grocery store!

Calling all local farmers! We are searching for antique tools to incorporate into the Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Program. The Iowa Core Standards list history, changes in agriculture and impact of technology as important concepts for students to learn. By bringing antique tools into the classroom, we will help demonstrate how agriculture has changed over time. This is also a great opportunity to incorportate modern day technology and practices. Possible tools include; a hand planter, corn sheller, corn husking glove, vintage corn dryer, etc. If you have any of the listed tools or others that you would like to donate to Linn County Farm Bureau, please call Morgan Hibbs at 319-471-2152 or email mhibbs@ifbf.org. Thank you for considering!

Students Learn about the Geography of their Thanksgiving Dinner! It is November... that means harvest is in progress, the temperatures are cooling and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Are you looking for a fun holiday themed lesson? Visit National Ag in the Classroom (NAITC) to search lesson plans! Yesterday, students from Summit Schools participated in a NAITC lesson called The Geography of Thanksgiving Dinner. To begin, students made a list of common Thanksgiving foods and determined where those foods are primarily produced. Top producing states include; turkey (Minnesota) cranberry sauce (Wisconsin), mashed potatoes (Idaho), deviled eggs (Iowa), green bean casserole (Wisconsin), wheat (Kansas), pumpkins (Illinois) and sweet potatoes (North Carolina).” They identified climate, soil fertility, access to resources (land, water, etc), and demand as the requirements/limitations for raising plants and animals in different regions across the United States. According to the NAITC lesson research, “Thanksgiving did not become an annual tradition until 200 years after the pilgrims celebrated their first harvest season. The first Thanksgiving was a three-day festival of eating, hunting and celebrating.” To learn more Thanksgiving geography facts, visit the history channel: Thanksgiving Facts

Happy Halloween! Did you know, pumpkins are native to the United States? Pumpkins are grown for seeds, puree, decorations and Jack'O Lanterns. Students are celebrating Halloween by investigating the phenomenon of decomposing pumpkins as a part of the plant's life cycle. Have you ever wondered what happens the millions of Jack'O Lanterns after Halloween? They usually begin to rot, and before long, mom or dad toss them in the trash can... but what if there was a better use for decaying pumpkins? Local Linn County second grade students discovered what happens to a pumpkin over time by reading a story called "Pumpkin Jack!" The pumpkin begins to change color as mold spreads over the crumpled pumpkin rind. As the pumpkin flattens it will begin to lose its shape. This is a good time to toss the decomposing pumpkin into the backyard, garden, compost bin, or to animals. Deer and cows will often munch on pumpkins left over in a field. According to the National Agriculture in the Classroom website, "decomposition is a natural process through which nutrients are recycled back into the soil. Insects, fungus, and bacteria are decomposers that eat the dead tissue from the pumpkin and excrete it in a form that helps live plants grow. In nature, dead plants and animals decompose and become humus. Humus acts like a sponge to help soil hold water. It also traps air in the soil and provides nutrients. Plants need air, water, light, and nutrients to grow." Composting is a great way to recycle rotten fruits and vegetables. The nutrients replenish the soil in preparation for next year's crop. It is a win, win! We reduce food waste and we keep the decomposing foods out of the landfill. Many farmers compost by keeping the harvested residue on the fields. In spring, a farmer will till the crop reside into the soil or use a method called no-till which is planting directly into the residue. How do you plan to celebrate this spooky holiday? Trick or treating with the kids? Watching a fun movie? Carving pumpkins? Filling up on candy? Visiting a haunted house? Or enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie? However you plan to celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful day and remember to recycle your pumpkin!

Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach presented at Open Minds, Open Doors; a half-day conference at Coe College intended to encourage middle school girls (7th-8th grades) to pursue career fields with foundations in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The annual conference offers young women the opportunity to experience STEM careers through hands-on breakout sessions, expo booths and conversations with local industry professionals. Over 20 students attended “Ag will hire you,” a breakout session presented by Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach. The session focused on solving real-world challenges. The world's population is expected to increase to 9 billion people by the year 2050. The amount of land available for planting will decrease. Farmers will need to produce more food on less land. To add to this, over 1/3 of all food produced is wasted; in the field, during transportation, at the grocery store or in our refrigerators. It is important to maximize efficiency while being sustainable in order to produce enough food to feed our growing world. Students worked in groups to brainstorm possible solutions to the proposed challenge. They then discovered a variety of technical career fields relating to their possible solutions including; farming, packaging, transportation, agronomy, genetics, precision agriculture, software engineering, manufacturing, education, marketing and graphic design. Following two breakout sessions, the participants headed to an auditorium-style expo where they had the opportunity to talk with professionals in STEM related careers. It was a great day full of learning! Open Minds, Open Doors is a conference provided by Grant Wood AEA, the Association of University Women (AAUW) and Coe College. #TeachAg. Hope to see you next year!