Major projects accomplished this year

• Agricultural WebQuest, an on-line program utilizing technology to enhance agricultural literacy, was launched in April thanks to a USDA Grant and U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond, MO. These teacher-created units contain streaming videos, photographs, approved agricultural links, evaluation rubrics and teacher pages making them teacher- and student-friendly. The website is www.mofb.org/webquest
• An exhibit at MO Association of School Librarians and MO State Teachers Associaton promoted WebQuest to educators and pre-service educators making over 2000 contacts.
• Teacher in-service and pre-service workshops qualifying for Professional Development continue to be offered. The topics provide an accurate portrayal of agriculture and ideas for infusing it into the curriculum. This has proven an effective means to reach large numbers of teachers with a practical approach.
• The 11th annual bi-state (MO/KS) Ag Day Pizza Party provided 702 4th grade students in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area with hands-on expereinces relating pizza to agriculture.
• $7500 in mini-grants were awarded to educators to asssit in delivery of agricultural messages to the classroom. These competitive awards provide a maximum of $200 for resources allowing educators to include agricultural concepts in the classroom curriculum.
• County Farm Bureau volunteers provide program support for schools in their respective counties. These include field days, serving as classroom resource person, and providing materials for classroom use.
• Partnerships are in place that allow for multiplying our efforts. Venues including the American Royal, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri State Fair, Kansas City AgriBusiness Council and Kansas City Public Library promote agricultural literacy to varied audiences.
• Legislators Read, a new effort, finds Members of the Missouri General Assembly reading stories about agriculture to students in their respective districts.

Major impacts the program had this year

• 97% of the educators participating in workshops, in-service or pre-service education have utilized some of the materials within their classroom.
• 85% of the teachers/librarians introduced to the webquest program indicate they have visited the website and will utilize the program to enhance student learning.
• 97% of the teachers in the pre-service workshops indicate their plan to utilize the materials and develop teaching units for use in the classroom.
• 84% of 4th grade teachers utilized agricultural concepts in their study of Missouri.
• 96% of the teachers participating in the Ag Day Pizza Party indicated they utilized the agricultural message pre/post within their classroom.