Area teachers attend Summer Ag Institute

Several teachers from All Saints Academy, Bartelso Elementary and Carlyle Elementary School recently attended the Summer Ag Institute, hosted by the Clinton County Farm Bureau. CCFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator, Susan Kleiboeker, organized the two-day workshop. The summer Ag Institute is a hands-on, interactive learning experience for teachers to become familiar with modern agriculture and how it can be incorporated into the classroom.  

During the Summer Ag Institute, various industry experts and local businesses facilitated hands on activities and lessons that can be used in the classroom. Lee Daels, with Illinois Ag in the Classroom, presented a hands-on workshop where the teachers participated in many of the lessons that are available from Illinois Ag in the Classroom. 

Karen Voss, from Voss Pecans, spoke about their family business. A virtual tour was given of the pecan harvesting process from tree to consumer. Voss Pecans can be found in some of your favorite treats at some of our local bakeries, area farmers markets and at their newly renovated farm store.     

Teachers also received private lesson on Dairy from, Caroline Sligar, with the South-west Dairy Farmers and her cow Louise in the Mobile Dairy Classroom. The Mobile Dairy Classroom can be scheduled for visits at local schools free of charge thanks to generous donations from local businesses including the Clinton County Farm Bureau.

Day one ended with a trip to Twelve Oaks Winery in Carlyle. Owners, Doug and Jodi Palm, gave the group a tour of the grounds and explained how they began their winemaking adventures.  Participants learned about the winemaking process from plant to bottle.

Day two began with a tour of Covered in Chocolate by Hollie Smith.  Smith explained how she and her sister, Jamie, began their business and the ins and outs of running a restaurant and catering business. 

The group returned to the Farm Bureau to learn about horticulture by Chris Lueking, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with the University Illinois Extension.  Lueking loves teaching others about plants.  The teachers learned how to press flowers and then made a macrame planter, two great hands on activities that can easily be replicated in the classroom.  

A visit to Chakota Therapeutic Riding Center outside of Germantown wrapped up this year’s institute.  Chakota is a community-based human service organization which provides Therapeutic Horseback Riding for children and adults with disabilities. Nicole, with Chakota, spent the afternoon explaining all the different aspects of the lessons and fun provided at Chakota.  This was an eye-opening experience for everyone. 

For more information on the Summer Ag Institutes in the area or to be contacted when next year’s registration opens, please call the Clinton County Farm Bureau office at 618-526-7235.