Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ag Education and Outreach

09/16/2026

Did you vote? Comment the number of the equipment you think Commissioner Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell should buy during next week's virtual field trip!

All students and teachers welcome in grades K-12, link to register: www.bit.ly/AskAnAggieFall26

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Field Trip on Monday, September 21st as we kick off All in for Ag Week! We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at machinery of all sizes, dive into how to be safe around large equipment, and learn how technology is driving the future of agriculture.

👉Register here: www.bit.ly/AskAnAggieFall26

We also need YOUR VOTE! Rumor has it that Commissioner Shell may be purchasing some equipment during this experience... but he needs some help determining which ride to go home in. Help him decide what to purchase in the comments below - simply reply with what number machine would fit him best 🚜

09/16/2026

🎤 MEET THE PANELISTS! 🌾🚜

The hosts are ready. The equipment is ready. Now it’s time to meet the experts who will be answering YOUR questions!

Joining our Ask an Aggie: Virtual Field Trip & Q&A Panel:
🌾 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell
📚 Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher
🚜 Meade Tractor Vice President Dusty Tomblin
⭐ National FFA Officer Candidate Aiden Manley

From Kentucky agriculture and education to agricultural equipment and the next generation of ag leaders, this panel brings a whole lot of agriculture experience to the table!

Students will get to hear their stories, learn about careers and opportunities in agriculture, and ask their own questions LIVE! 🎤

👉 Register your class: www.bit.ly/AskAnAggieFall26
📚 Find more lessons & resources: www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek

09/16/2026

🚜Meet the Experts Taking You Behind the Scenes! 🚜
Meet the hosts of our next Ask an Aggie: Virtual Field Trip & Q&A Panel! 👋

🎓 Matthew Estes — University of Kentucky Agricultural Economics major
🚜 Chris Smith — Meade Tractor Richmond Store Manager

Together, Matthew and Chris will take Kentucky students behind the scenes at Meade Tractor in Madison County to explore the tractors, technology and equipment that help Kentucky farmers get the job done.

Students will learn about careers in agriculture, equipment and technology, farm safety, and the role machinery plays in modern agriculture — and then get the chance to ask the experts their own questions!

Ready to go?
👉 Register your class: www.bit.ly/AskAnAggieFall26
📚 Find more lessons & resources: www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek

09/15/2026

📦🌾 HEY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS?!?

Your Harvest Crate resources are officially in the mail and heading your way for Fall All In for Ag Education Week! 🎉

These crates are packed with agriculture education resources to help bring Kentucky agriculture into your classroom — and the best part? You didn’t have to sign up! 🙌

All 730 Kentucky public elementary schools are already on the list generated by the Kentucky Department of Education, so just keep an eye out for your delivery!

A HUGE thank you to the partners who helped make these resources possible:
💚 Raising Hope KY
🚜 Farm Credit Mid-America
🌱 Kentucky Soybean
🎓 UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
🐑 Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office
🌾 Kentucky Agriculture & Environment in the Classroom
🐄 Kentucky Department of Agriculture

We’re so excited to get these resources into the hands of Kentucky educators and students!

And we have ONE request… 👀
📸 When your Harvest Crate arrives, share your unboxing with us! Tag us so we can see where these resources landed and celebrate Kentucky agriculture education together!

09/15/2026

🌾🧪 Let's get hands-on! K-5 AG LABS ARE HERE! 🧪🌾

What happens when you take an agriculture commodity from the field, farm, or flock… and turn it into something students recognize at the store? Now your students get to find out! 🙌

We’re excited to release six new hands-on Ag Labs for grades K-5, designed to put students right in the middle of the learning process:

🎃 Kindergarten: Turn pumpkins into PIE!
🍞 1st Grade: Make BREAD from grain!
🌱 2nd Grade: Plant SOYBEAN seeds and explore what grows!
🍎 3rd Grade: Turn apples into APPLESAUCE!
🧀 4th Grade: Make CHEESE from milk!
🐑 5th Grade: Wash and DYE WOOL into colorful fiber!

Each lab helps students see the journey from RAW AGRICULTURAL GOOD → PROCESSED PRODUCT → SOMETHING THEY RECOGNIZE IN THE STORE. 🌾➡️🏭➡️🛒

And we made them easy for teachers! Every lab includes easy-to-follow directions, student lab activity sheets, photos, videos, and resources, all connected to Kentucky Academic Standards.

Because sometimes the best way to understand agriculture isn't just to read about it… you have to get your hands in it! 👩‍🔬👨‍🌾🌱

Find the new K-5 Ag Labs and other lesson plans in the School Handbook at:
👉www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek

09/15/2026

🚨 TEACHER RESOURCE UPDATE! 🚨

We found a little glitch in our Google Drive… but it’s fixed! 🎉

Our easy-to-print Ag Education Week lesson plans and resources have been updated and are ready to go. 📚🌾 If you tried to access them earlier and ran into trouble, give them another try!

📌 To access your lessons: Head to the School Handbook, find your grade-level page, and click the PRINT button. That will take you directly to the updated Google Drive, easy-to-print lesson plans and resources!
👉 Access the School Handbook: www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek

09/14/2026

🌾 ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. 🌾

In ONE WEEK, classrooms across Kentucky will be buzzing with agriculture. Check out some of our favorite moments from our kick off schools! Where do you think we're kicking off this Ag Education Week?

🐄 Students will meet farmers.
🌱 Classrooms will dig into agriculture.
🔬 Students will get hands-on with Ag Labs.
🚌 Schools will hit the road for Real Ag Experiences and Colleges of Ag Tours.
📚 Teachers will bring agriculture into lessons across every grade level.

And it’s all happening during…

ALL IN FOR AG EDUCATION WEEK! 🎉🌾

📅 September 21–25

From Preschool to High School, there’s a place for everyone.

This isn’t just one classroom.
It isn’t just one school.
It’s Kentucky coming together to put agriculture education ALL IN. 💚

🚨 7 DAYS. ARE. WE. READY?!

Tag a teacher, farmer, student, or ag professional who’s going ALL IN with us!

09/13/2026

📚🐐 WANT TO SEE WHAT THE TELL THE AG STORY BOOK CONTEST CAN CREATE? 🐐📚

Look no further than the 2026 Spring Ag Book of Ag Education Week!
✍️ Author: Franklin County student Ayla Tolentino
🎨 Illustrator: Laurel County student Blakely Beth Callahan

Their book, Millie’s Farm Day, is a fantastic example of Kentucky students using their creativity to Tell the Ag Story! 🌾📖

🎥 And who better to share their story than Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell? Listen as Commissioner Shell reads Millie’s Farm Day aloud! You can find this and more than 20 other books in our Stories About Ag: Virtual Library linked in the School Handbook! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf1O4l1iVCk

🎉Our first student-created ag story was so great, we're doing it again! This time with the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office! Find the resources, lesson plans and details in the School Handbook at: www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek The theme: "A sheep that thinks it's a goat!"

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/13/2026

🐐📚 CALLING ALL YOUNG AGRICULTURE STORYTELLERS! 📚🐐

The Tell the Ag Story Book Contest is BACK — and this year’s theme is one you won’t want to miss…

🐐➡️🐑 “A Goat That Thinks It’s a Sheep” 🐑😂

Students, it’s time to grab your pencils, unleash your creativity, and TELL THE AG STORY!

You can enter as:
✍️ Author — write the story!
🎨 Illustrator — bring the story to life!
✍️🎨 Author & Illustrator — do BOTH!

🏆 And there’s a pretty great reason to put your creativity to work…

💰 The winning author earns $500!
💰 The winning illustrator earns $500!

The contest is made possible through a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office (KSGDO).

KSGDO supports and promotes Kentucky’s sheep and goat industries by providing leadership, resources, and support to producers across the Commonwealth. As Kentucky’s hub for small-ruminant information, KSGDO connects producers and consumers while helping grow the future of sheep and goat agriculture. 🐑🐐🌾

So… can you tell the story of a goat who REALLY thinks it’s a sheep? 👀

We can’t wait to see what Kentucky’s young storytellers create! And teachers, we've got your back! Lesson plans, resources, and templates are all done for you! Get them in the School Handbook at: www.kyagr.com/AgEdWeek

09/12/2026

🚜❤️ CALLING ALL FARMERS & AGRICULTURALISTS! ❤️🚜

Farmer Appreciation Day is coming up, and we want YOU there! 🌾

Whether you’re a lifelong farmer, an agriculturalist, a future farmer, or an agribusiness professional, come celebrate the people who keep Kentucky growing! 🌱🐄🚜

📅 September 23, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 The Center for Rural Development — Somerset, KY

Come connect with fellow agriculturalists, celebrate Kentucky agriculture, and be part of a day dedicated to the people behind the food, fiber, fuel, and resources that make our Commonwealth strong.

👩‍🌾 Farmers.
🌾 Agriculturalists.
🎓 Future farmers.
💼 Agribusiness.
There’s a place for YOU!

Join us during Farm Safety Week and All In For Ag Education Week as we celebrate Kentucky agriculture and the people who make it happen.

💚 Mark your calendar. Bring a friend. Come celebrate YOU and Kentucky agriculture!