Ag for Life is hosting a teachers’ symposium in a bid to bridge “the gap between the agriculture sector and classroom curriculum.”
“Most families are three to five generations removed from the farm today and that disconnect leads to a misunderstanding about how food is raised,” said Luree Williamson, CEO of the Alberta non-profit, which promotes a greater understanding of agriculture.
“We feel the best way to shift this gap is to have agriculture within the curriculum throughout K-12 education.”
The Agriculture Education Teachers’ Symposium will bring educators, farmers, and agriculture industry experts together at Cochrane RancheHouse on Nov. 24. The day-long event will have speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions aimed at aiding educators in incorporating agriculture into their existing curriculum. Topics include sustainability, the different types of crops being grown; pesticide use and the role of bees; container gardening in the classroom; and careers in agriculture.
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The symposium will be an annual event, Ag for Life said in a news release.
“Funny thing, everybody eats, and so relies on agriculture,” said Frank Robinson, a professor of poultry science at the University of Alberta and a keynote speaker at the event.
“However, not very many people know much about agriculture anymore. There is a lot of need for agricultural learning.”
For a detailed agenda or to register, go to www.agricultureforlife.ca.
