Agricultural Literacy Week

Ag-in-the-Classroom

Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau. Its mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how we produce food and fiber, what we eat, and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems.

NY Ag Literacy Week: March 17 - 21, 2025

The Cornell University New York Agriculture in the Classroom Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County invite you to participate in our annual Agricultural Literacy Week to be held in 2025!  Last year, 2300 books were donated to school or classroom libraries and books were read by volunteers to thousands of second graders throughout New York State. 

The selected book for 2025 is "The Pie that Molly Grew" by Sue Heavenrich and illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg.

Beginning with the planting of a single seed, join Molly on the journey of bringing a pumpkin to harvest. Under Molly’s watchful eye and care, each stage of growth – from the seed to the sprout to the leaves to the final fruit on the vine – is showcased. At the end, Molly’s lovely pumpkin is turned into a delicious pie to one and all to share in a celebration of gratitude. All from the seed that Molly sowed.

It is an honor to feature New York author Sue Heavenrich for our 2025 Agricultural Literacy Week program. Based in Tioga County, Sue is a lifelong lover of biology, gardening, and reading. A teacher of many sorts, Sue especially loves telling stories about the science she sees in her backyard, or in this case, her garden!

Classrooms that are interested in participating can fill out this registration by clicking here. 

Volunteer

In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students, with a focus on second grade classrooms. Farmers, FFA and 4-H members, adults engaged in a career in agriculture, and engaged in our food system volunteer to enthusiastically engage your students in a paired hands-on activity related to the book to extend learning. The book will be donated to the school or classroom library with a bookplate recognizing the donor and our celebration of New York Agricultural Literacy Week. 2,300 books were donated last year while 75,000 elementary students participated in an experiential learning activity. Start to finish the program takes approximately 40 minutes per classroom.

Agricultural Literacy Week volunteers work with their county's coordinator to set up visits to local schools Volunteers read the selected book aloud to the students.

Following the reading, volunteers conduct an activity with students and share their experiences in agriculture. 

The book is donated to the school or classroom library for students to enjoy and reference throughout the school year.

All activity materials are prepared by NYAITC and schools get to keep a copy of the book for their school or classroom library.

For more information about volunteering or register as a volunteer, contact nassaucounty4h@cornell.edu

Last updated November 18, 2024