New York Agriculture in the Classroom

Three Farm to Classroom summer educator learning experiences have been launched and are open for registration! Each FREE, one-day regional workshop will bring you to two farms, and then you will learn from master teachers to build your confidence in cooking or integrating food in your classrooms.

July 16th in Hamilton, NY (Madison County)
July 22nd in Middleport, NY (Niagara County)
August 3rd in Schaghticoke, NY (Rensselaer County)

Teachers receive a bundle of classroom resources and equipment valued at $150 to recreate the recipes learned during the workshop!

Space is limited! Learn more and register at: https://tinyurl.com/farm2classroom

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a story rooted in love and life on the farm 💐🚜

Hey, Hey, Hay! by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Joe Cepeda, is a joyful rhyming tale that follows a girl and her mom as they work side by side making hay. From mowing and tedding to baling, each step highlights the beauty of farming—and the special bond between mother and daughter.

Perfect for sharing with young readers, this story is a heartfelt tribute to hardworking moms everywhere. 💛

https://newyork.agclassroom.org/matrix/companion-resources/927/

Bring the farm to your classroom—anytime! 🌾🐄

Missed one of our live Virtual Field Trips? You can watch past experiences on our YouTube page and give your students a behind-the-scenes look at farms and food production.

Start exploring today! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqlileN6iWjFesuC7bDdlr58hiJGJpp3Y

Grow-NY Youth Competition Spotlight 🌱

Nate de Jong created Soil Elevated, a web-based platform that helps growers improve soil health with personalized, crop-specific recommendations. By analyzing up to 17 soil parameters, it delivers tailored insights along with tools like crop rotation planning, pest prevention tips, compost calculators, and soil health tracking. Designed to simplify and enhance planting, Soil Elevated stands out as a unique, all-in-one solution focused on smarter, more productive growing.

Seize the opportunity to share your inspiring idea—applications for the Grow-NY Youth Competition are open through September 30, 2026!

Apply >> https://newyork.agclassroom.org/programs/grow-new-york/

Book Spotlight: Apples for All: A Story About Grafting
by Mary Peterson

Bobbi’s family can’t agree on their favorite apple—until she discovers grafting! 🌳 A fun, STEM-friendly story about apples, science, and compromise, with cool facts and even an applesauce recipe.

Perfect for curious kids who love nature and learning! 🍏📚

https://newyork.agclassroom.org/matrix/companion-resources/1400/

🥦🔬 Lesson Spotlight: Fruits and Vegetables – The Right Pick for Vitamins and Minerals

Take agricultural literacy deeper with this high school–level lesson! Students trace fruits and vegetables from farm to table, analyze the nutrients they provide, and evaluate how storage and preparation methods impact nutritional value. 🌱

Perfect for connecting agriculture, biology, and health science while building real-world decision-making skills around food and nutrition. 🍎💡

https://newyork.agclassroom.org/matrix/lessons/668/

📚🌎 Happy World Book Day!

Books open the door to new worlds—and new understanding! 📖✨

This World Book Day, celebrate the power of reading to connect students with agriculture, food, and the environment. From stories about farms to lessons on where our food comes from, books help grow curious minds and inspire the next generation. 🌱

What’s your favorite agriculture-themed book to share with students? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Do you have a big idea for the future of food and agriculture? The 2026 Grow-NY Competition is now accepting applications! 💡🌾

This youth business competition supports innovative food, beverage, and agtech startups and the chance to compete for a top prize.

Applications are open now through September 30, 2026—don’t miss your chance to grow your idea and make an impact in New York’s agricultural economy!

Learn more and apply: https://newyork.agclassroom.org/programs/grow-new-york/

Did you know the soil beneath our feet is one of our most valuable—and limited—natural resources? In the lesson What’s Our Soil Worth?, students use an apple to model Earth’s land and discover just how little of it is available to grow our food. 🍎
With only a small portion of land suitable for agriculture and topsoil taking 100–500 years to form, this activity helps students understand why protecting our soil matters.

🌿 Celebrate Earth Day by exploring how we can care for the land that feeds us: https://newyork.agclassroom.org/matrix/lessons/148/

Did you know the first American ice cream parlor opened in New York City in 1776? 🇺🇸🍦

Now it’s your turn to bring creativity and agriculture together with the Ice Cream Challenge! Students explore where ingredients come from, experiment with flavors, and design their own delicious creations—all while learning the science behind ice cream.

This fun, hands-on challenge is the perfect way to blend food, agriculture, and STEM in your classroom!
🔗 Get started: https://newyork.agclassroom.org/programs/ice-cream-challenge/