National Agriculture Day is Everyone's Day

MAT-SU -- National Agriculture Day on March 20, culminates a week-long celebration for all Americans to enjoy and admire the wonders of American agriculture, which provides for our food, clothing, shelter and thousands of items used every day. Currently one farmer supplies food for more than 130 people, compared with just 25.8 people in 1960. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there will be approximately 7.5 billion people in the world by the year 2020 (the current population is 6.2 billion). Improving the quality and quantity of food available to these people and creating additional non-food uses with renewable resources is an increasing concern as the population rises.

Across the nation, Agriculture in the Classroom programs are conducting activities to educate Americans on how food and fiber products are produced and how essential the agriculture industry is for maintaining a strong state and national economy. Agriculture in the Classroom is a grass-roots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture and implemented by state programs representing farm organizations, agribusiness, education and the public sector. The goal of this program is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so they may become knowledgeable citizens who support wise agricultural policies.

Alaska's offering for the Agriculture in the Classroom program teaches science through a new "Crops & Weeds" project, featuring seven Alaska crops and five noxious and invasive weed cards in a special learn-and-play deck. The full-color cards feature photographs of the plants and weeds, important and fun facts, and whimsical drawings of the good crops and bad weeds. The set also includes a game board sheet, activities relating to Alaska crops and weeds, and new lesson plans. The Alaska Division of Agriculture and the Alaska Farm Bureau fund the project.

Alaska is not the only state taking special measures to celebrate National Agriculture Week. At the Ag Day celebration in Phoenix, the public can buy lunch for only $1, which represents the amount of money farmers receive for the items served. In Kansas, the governor will award student winners in the Post Card Art contest for promoting agriculture. Indiana and Kentucky McDonald's restaurants will promote Ag Day with special tray liners that provide facts about our safe and abundant food supply. Maryland will invite thousands of citizens to tour the Agriculture Showcase on Wheels at the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Open House.

For more information, visit Agriculture in the Classroom at www.agclassroom.org or contact Victoria Naegele with Alaska Ag in the Classroom at 746-2172.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.