Twelve Oklahoma educators from across the state were awarded a basket of agriculture books for their schools during Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 80th Annual Meeting Nov. 5 in Norman.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, in partnership with the OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee, sponsored this year’s Bushels for Books program. The program takes donated bushels of any commodity crop, as well as monetary donations from farmers and ranchers, and provides bushel baskets of accurate agriculture books to Oklahoma educators.
“Our youngest consumers typically do not know what it takes to grow their food and fiber,” said David VonTungeln, Foundation president. “We are proud to provide educators the opportunity to share the accurate agriculture story.”
Applications were accepted from teachers across the state, and winners were chosen by the OKFB WLC state board. The books cover various agriculture topics and were picked from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s accurate agriculture book list.
“Agriculture is around us each and every day,” said Mignon Bolay, OKFB WLC chair. “We hope these accurate agriculture books will open students’ eyes to the world around them as their teachers and librarians use these tools in the classroom.”
Educators who received books included:
- Kristy Ehlers, BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center in El Reno
- Andrea Andrade, Bridge Creek Intermediate School in Blanchard
- Delores Cox, Buffalo Valley Public School in Talihina
- Katie Fox, Creekwood Elementary School in Broken Arrow
- Rita Harwick, Enid High School in Enid
- Traci Ellison, Mooreland Elementary in Mooreland
- Marisa Simon, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Edmond
- Jeri Bordine, Sentinel Elementary in Sentinel
- Katie Brassfield, Union City Intermediate School in Union City
- Chris Cragar, Tenkiller Public Schools in Welling
- Diane Hall, Wellston Elementary School in Wellston
- Lauren Parrish, Wilson Elementary School in Wilson
For more information on the Bushels for Books program, please visit www.OKFBFoundationForAgriculture.org/Bushels-For-Books/.
About the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture:
Founded in 2011, the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to enhance awareness and understanding of agriculture’s contribution and importance to the state of Oklahoma. The foundation supports a variety of projects and programs, such as the Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs programs, the Grown for You commodity trailer and the Bushels for Books program. To learn more, visit www.OKFBFoundationForAgriculture.org.
