MAINE

State Contact: Ms. Willie Grenier Maine Agriculture in the Classroom 28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0028

P: (207) 287-5522 F: (207) 287-7548 E: maitca@maine.gov Website

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Major Program Accomplishments
In 2007 our major focus continued to be the Maine Agricultural License Plate. The plate was released on October 1, 2007. $10 from each set of plates will be placed in a fund for Agricultural Education. Now a special MAITC Council is forming. Funding is still our most serious constraint.

Our basic program consisted of teacher trainings and outreach efforts to teachers and students. The newsletter was mailed to 1600 educators and our website and Teacher Resource Guide to Maine Farms received increased use from Maine educators.

We have been in the planning stages for "Read ME Agriculture", an Ag. Literacy Project funded by our 2007 ACE Grant that will focus on reading literacy for grades K - 3. 100 classrooms has expanded to 150 and the project has been very successful. Maine's first Lady will be kicking off the project by reading in two elementary classrooms leading discussions on Maine agriculture during Ag Week in March 2008.

Major Program Impacts
60 teachers received 6 to 36 hours of training this year.

Over 10,000 students participated in agricultural literacy lessons.

Over 1500 Teachers received agricultural lesson plans for use in their classrooms.

Over 1600 teachers learned about our agricultural education resources and workshops.

4,000 teachers have the information needed to schedule agricultural fieldtrips and presentations locally.

Our new website is receiving 200 - 1000 hits per month.