RICHMOND—Volunteers from Virginia Farm Bureau and other agriculture organizations turned out in force to read to children during the Agriculture in the Classroom program’s third annual Agriculture Literacy Week, March 17-23.

Volunteers from 79 county Farm Bureaus, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Farm Credit of the Virginias and several 4-H and FFA chapters, along with AITC board members and staff and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board members and staff, marked the week by reading books about agriculture to more than 50,000 students in their local schools.

Many read the book Kelly’s Big Day, by Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC senior education program coordinator, and donated copies to school and classroom libraries.

“Reading agriculture-themed books to children gave us an opportunity to share agriculture with students who might not be familiar with the industry, and to help them understand why it is so important in Virginia and right here in their community,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. He read to children at Mt. Gilead Baptist Preschool in Goochland County.

Virginia AITC is part of a nationwide effort to help teachers and students understand and appreciate agriculture, which is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest industry. The program provides training and materials to more than 2,000 educators each year, and its website at AgInTheClass.org provides teachers with Standards of Learning-aligned lessons, literacy activities and more. All AITC services are provided to teachers at no cost.

The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

For further information, contact Maxey at 804-290-1143.