MISSISSIPPI

State Contact: Ms. Clara Bilbo Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation P.O. Box 1972 Jackson, MS 39215-1972

Phone: (601) 977-4245 Fax: (601) 977-4808 E-mail: cbilbo@msfb.com Website

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Major projects accomplished this year

• The Mississippi Farm Bureau coloring contest was one of the highlights as over 15,000 coloring sheets were distributed to schools for participation. These contests are held in each district for second grade students. District winners receive $25 and the overall state winner receives $50. As an on-going learning instrument, fourth grade teachers are offered a resource guide and collection of agriculture lessons titled "Mapping Mississippi Agriculture." This unit includes Mississippi agriculture facts and a bright colored poster-size map indicating each county's major commodities.
• Twelve Teaching Units on different commodities were written and submitted for approval to the Department of Education.
• County Field Days and Farm Festivals are conducted in many areas of our state in cooperation with Soil Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Extension Service, educational groups and commodity groups. Farm Bureau Women provide volunteers and materials as they host a field day for over 5,000 students and teachers. The field trip offers an opportunity for the students to "see" the animals and "experience" agriculture.

Major impacts the program had this year

• 3 Teacher Conferences held with 138 obtaining CEU credit.
• 46% of teachers attending Spring Conferences in public and private schools have used AITC material.
• 15,000 coloring sheets were distributed for the coloring contest.
• 12 commodity teaching units were written and presented to Department of Education for approval.
• 8 counties built Learning Barns to be used in schools in their county.
• 3 scholarships were presented through AITC in 2005.
• One teacher won trip to National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference.