COLUMBUS – “How do Ohio farmers make sure we have good, safe food to eat?” is the question Ohio third-grade students are encouraged to answer by March 11 as part of a statewide essay contest. The winning student’s essay will earn an all-expenses-paid field trip for his/her entire class to an Ohio livestock farm.
The essay contest is part of the Ohio Livestock Coalition’s (OLC) For Your InFARMation program, which offers Ohio teachers free educational materials designed to teach third-graders about the origins of the food they eat every day and about the important role agriculture plays in the state’s economy.
To participate, Ohio third-grade teachers and students are encouraged to visit www.ForYourInFARMation.com to obtain the essay guidelines and form. All essays are due March 11 and winners will be notified by April 8.
“As more and more Ohio families become generations removed from the farm, it is increasingly important to educate students at a younger age on where their food comes from and the critical role Ohio livestock farmers play in feeding Ohio and the world,” said Jenny Hubble, Ohio Livestock Coalition representative. “That’s exactly the goal of the For Your InFARMation program and the essay winner’s entire class will be able to experience this concept first-hand during their field trip.”
The For Your InFARMation materials were developed by OLC with an education consultant and practicing third-grade teacher. These materials support academic content standards for language arts, social studies, science and math. The curriculum also includes a variety of nonfiction reading passages to support teachers with Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
Instructional resources include:
• Student Guide with a variety of nonfiction reading passages.
• Teacher’s Guide with complete lesson plans and links to additional resources.
• Ready-to-use lapbooks, worksheets and smart board lessons to reinforce key content and skills.
Materials can be downloaded, for free, at www.ForYourInFARMation.com. Students will learn about farmers and the Ohio economy, livestock farming, keys to safe and healthy food, energy and renewable resources, as well as careers in agriculture.
OLC is a not-for-profit organization representing collective interests of Ohio’s livestock sector and affiliated stakeholders.
