State Programs
State Summary 2007 — Wisconsin
State Contact
Ms. Darlene Arneson
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
P.O. Box 5550
Madison, WI 53705-0550
P: 608.828.5719
F: 608.828.5718
E: darneson@wfbf.com
Website
Classroom Resources
Fun Faces of Wisconsin Agriculture Lesson Plans- www.wisagclassroom.org/teachers/lessonplans.php
Resource/Lesson Plan Booklets for Clarabelle(our book of the year). Also available for Farmer George Plants a Nation, Fantastic Farm Machines, and The Super Soybean
Introducing Agriculture into Academia- Career Lesson Plans- http://www.wisagclassroom.org/teachers/IncorporatingAgriculture.php
Major Program Accomplishments or Outputs
1. Continued distribution, in-services and workshops on the Introducing Agriculture into Academia career lesson plans. 2. Obtained funding for two Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Newsletter that was sent to over 2750 teachers and volunteers. 3. Application completed for the USDA Excellence in Educating about Agriculture program. 4. Continued distribution of Fun Faces of Wisconsin Agriculture Lesson Plans. 5. Presented three workshops and had a display booth at Wisconsin Corn Soy Expo. 6. State coordinator attended the National Ag in the Classroom Conference. 7. County AITC programs demonstrated growth in programming and outreach. 8. Offered county AITC information meetings via conference call, meetings, and workshops reaching almost 500 people. 9. Distributed $800 to 8 teachers through a new Teacher Mini-Grant Program. 10. Coordinated a one-credit and three-credit graduate class for teachers at eight optional locations. 11. Administered $5,173 of AITC Matching Grants to 12 local agricultural groups 12. Had 1,352 students in the essay contest for 4-5th grade students with the topic The Machines that make Wisconsin agriculture work . 13. Selected a winner for the 2010 Wisconsin AITC Outstanding Teacher Award. 14. Administered Soybean Science Kit use to 6,162 students using the 54 kits. 15. Helped distribute an additional 10,000 Amazing Corn activity booklets. 16. Increased visibility by attending seven teacher's conventions, two agriculture shows, and conducted workshops at the Wisconsin FFA Convention and Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators Professional Development Conference. 17. Increased involvement at the Wisconsin State Fair by participating in three State Fair Camps, co-sponsored 30,000 State Fair Activity Booklets, and sponsor of the Wisconsin Cornucopia Contest.
Major Program Impacts or Outcomes
Due to a slight increase in our public funding, we were able to maintain or moderately increase our outreach to schools and teachers in a number of categories.
1. Increased the number of essay participants from 658 to 1,352 2. Increased the number of students reached by volunteers from 50,769 to 54,070 3. Increased the number of volunteers who helped with AITC from 390 to 1,333 4. Increased contact with middle and high school students, especially at career events, from 2,977 to 3,127
Biosketch
Work Related Experience " Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Madison. September 2004 - present. Work with teachers of all grade levels and volunteers by providing agriculture education resources that will help to increase the agricultural literacy in our state. Coordinate volunteer training for counties to assist them in developing an Ag in the Classroom program. Administer funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Responsibilities also include staffing display booths at teacher conventions and trade shows; administering the Matching Grant, Teacher Mini-Grant and Outstanding Teacher programs; completion of required reports;and developing new programs and activities.
Also serve as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation Director (since 2008). Responsibilities include securing funding, conducting fundraisers, and coordination of sponsorship of programs and activities.
" Dane County Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator: Dane County Farm Bureau, Madison. 1990 - 2004. Served for ten years on county level and was appointed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom Steering Committee.
" Agriculture Education Instructor and FFA Advisor: Cashton High School and Cambridge High School. 1986 - 1990. Responsible for teaching the agriculture and natural resource classes, served as FFA and class advisor, assisted the FFA Alumni and developed curriculum for program. Managed the school farm that was donated to the school district.
Education Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Education University of Wisconsin - Madison