The ND FFA Foundation provides opportunities that foster leadership development and personal growth for FFA members across the state. It’s the core of our mission! Did you know the Foundation also provides resources for ag educators and others in the agriculture sector whose work aligns with our mission?
The Ag in the Classroom grant program is offered in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Each year, any organization or individual may apply to receive funding for developing and conducting educational materials and programs to help young people understand the importance of agriculture in North Dakota and in their lives. Discover how one of this year’s grantees, NDSU Extension, is bringing agriculture education directly into classrooms across North Dakota!
Program: NDSU Extension – Foster County (including Eddy & Wells County)
Impact: 471 students across four elementary schools: New Rockford-Sheyenne, Carrington, Fessenden-Bowdon, and B M Hanson (Harvey)
Purpose: The goal was to educate students on the importance of agriculture, covering topics like beef, dairy, sheep, swine, cereal grains, oilseeds, and pulse crops.
Objectives:
- Identify the differences between beef and dairy animals, focusing on their distinct body types.
- Explore the various foods that can be produced from milk.
- Understand the process of turning milk into cheese.
- Sample cheese to enhance learning through taste.
- Discuss the wide range of by-products that livestock contribute to.
Each year, NDSU Extension agents in Eddy, Foster, and Wells counties collaborate to teach “Ag in the Gym” to 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students. This year’s program centered on sheep, swine, dairy, and dairy foods and nutrition. Students engaged in small group rotations through four interactive learning stations, each offering a 10-minute hands-on presentation. Activities included comparing the body types of beef and dairy animals, exploring foods made from milk, learning about the cheese-making process, and tasting different cheeses. Through these activities, students gained a deeper understanding of agriculture’s impact on their daily lives.
Teachers administered pre- and post-tests to measure students’ knowledge. For example, 14% of 6th graders initially identified Holstein as the most popular dairy cattle breed in North Dakota, which increased to 74% after the presentation. Similarly, 57% of 3rd graders correctly identified calcium and vitamin D as key nutrients from milk, rising to 77% post-program.
Teachers praised the program, noting its value in teaching students about the origins of their food and filling knowledge gaps for non-agriculture students. A teacher expressed, “I like how Ag in the Gym teaches the students about different parts of agriculture. Some kids truly have no idea, even though they live in an agricultural state. Thank you for doing this each year!”
