September 10, 2007

Dear Mr. Ulrich and Mr. Wells.,

First and foremost, let us begin by thanking you both and the Consulate General of Canada for supporting our visit to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend the US Agriculture in the Classroom National Conference in June. What an amazing experience it was for us Canadians to visit the deep south! The program, the tours, the people, the venue, the stories, the resources, the activities, the food, the fun, the sights, the sounds, the music…it was a package that had it all. The AITC US national conference is a celebration of agriculture literacy like no other. The sessions offered were very useful, and hands on with exceptional take back potential. For AITC Canada colleagues from across the country, our best advice will be that this is a must attend conference every year. It inspired us and while also showing us that it is quite negligent that we have not been communicating more with AITC US to share and learn. We have always said that the US is miles ahead of Canadian AITC and that is true to a point. At the same time we have so much to offer them….our short session on Saturday morning at the conference, which was repeated three times, was full each time and left people wanting more. The 2008 AITC US conference organizers have asked us to return for a keynote session next year in California. As we speak, a session proposal is being built to be submitted at the end of August.

In this letter, we will strive to report back on several outcomes that we believe have been achieved from this important meeting we were honored to participate in.

Short and Long Term Values to Cross Border Communications:

It is obvious that any cross border communications will be advantageous between organizations within Canada and the US. Agriculture in the Classroom has been happening both in Canada and the US for many years, however, there have not been many times when the two countries have worked collaboratively on projects or even reported regularly through representatives to network and share information. The opportunity for the representatives from AITC in Canada to meet with the national US AITC representatives was a first in recent memory. The value of this communication is significant. It is my hope that activities and continued communications will ensue regularly. From Canada’s standpoint, there are many benefits both short and long term to the opportunity recently experienced in New Orleans, Louisiana:

• A national network of contacts has been developed between all participants of the meeting,
• An understanding of each of the provincial and state structures was achieved,
• Sharing of resource ideas was extensive,
• Sharing and comparing of fundraising strategies and successes,
• Discussions on new ways to connect young people to agriculture through experiential education and interactive learning,
• An increased understanding of how the US AITC’s work with the federal government, providing strategies and ideas for Canadian AITC’s to approach national  funding agreements and opportunities.

 Synopsis: What was Experienced and How it Relates:

The four days in New Orleans were jam packed with events and learning opportunities.

Day 1: Wednesday, June 6, 2007

• US AITC Consortium Meeting was held  where all AITC state contacts met to discuss business items.
• Meeting ensued with each state reporting on activities
• Countless pieces of information presented for take back. The consortium was  very happy to have Canadian representation at the meeting. We were recognized as special guests and the Canadian/US partnership pins were distributed and very well received. Key pieces of information discussed at the meeting were taken away to share with AITC Canada colleagues:
• Membership in the AITC US consortium, how it works so well, what are the benefits of being a  member, how is the relationship built and maintained with USDA.
• Teacher scholarships that are presented at the national conference: two streams: American Farm Bureau and Monsanto
• USDA project grants per State
• Discussion on national Website and all it is doing for the AITC’s across the nation
• Ag Advocate Awards (non teacher, volunteer/ informal educator)
• AITC partners: who are they and how are they accepted and recognized as partners

An afternoon session had the consortium experiencing a workshop to share strategies on how best to reach pre-service teachers. This was an excellent workshop for us to sit in on as well as we learned several new ideas to take back to Canada and use in our in services with teachers who will soon be entering the workforce.

Later that day the national conference officially kicked off with a “Newcomers session” which helped us navigate through the program and make the best possible choices for our needs. At this session we were able to meet representatives from all over the United States and to get some good advice on which sessions to attend over the next few days. This networking continued into the kick off reception where we met countless people who were eager to share their specific state activities and also excited to hear more about Canada. This was a great time to also promote the fact that we were offering a session on the Saturday morning and that we would be sharing more specific information at that time.

Day 2: Thursday, June 7, 2007

• Conference sessions commenced with several great choices and concurrent sessions to choose from! It was very difficult to choose between so many great sessions.
• Sessions were attended and many resources were taken back to share with Canadian colleagues. Some highlights were:
1. Adding mAGic to your Classroom; these resources are being put to use in Manitoba in August 2007 Teacher Learning Adventure
2. Addressing Misconceptions in Agriculture; This resource also being put to use in Manitoba, August 2007
3. Ag…Re: Culture: Follow up contact has been made with this presenter from Utah to continue receiving more information on how agriculture affected the birth of all cultures.
4. Renewable Energy from American Agriculture; Excellent information on bio fuels, which of course has strong pertinence to Canada. Connections were also made to an educator who is making Biodiesel in his high school classroom. This contact has proven very useful as he has sent us his curriculum for use in Canada
5. Virtually Ag-citing lessons: An excellent glimpse into the endless amount or resources available to us on the internet, great ideas for educators to take students on virtual tours etc.

Overall, an exceptional day with the opportunity to meet with colleagues and share ideas, and resources. The day wrapped up with a terrific “Taste of Louisiana” cuisine and more opportunity to network and exchange business cards!

Day 3: Friday June 8, 2007

• Friday’s schedule consisted of day-long traveling workshops/tours.  Delegates could choose one of 5 different tour options, with each tour focusing on different aspects of the agricultural industry in Louisiana.  The tours provided delegates with an opportunity to increase their knowledge and awareness of the agriculture and food industry in the region and provided us as Canadians with an understanding of the diversity of North American agriculture. 
• The traveling workshops also provided delegates with additional opportunities to network and share in a more relaxed setting.
• Some of the highlights of the tours were:

Sugarcane Plantations, Seafood Companies; Alligator Ranch; John Deere Co.; nurseries; Tobacco Farm; Cajun Cuisine (retail and food service industries); Monsanto; Fast Food Farm, Inc. (interactive, educational farm); Citrus and Produce Farm.

We participated in Tour # 1 that took us into the bayous of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, located on the last great delta created by the Mississippi River and home to the most productive estuary system in the world.  This tour focused on sugarcane production and the seafood industry.

Stops on the tour included:

• Raceland Raw Sugar Corporation, producer of sugar, molasses and syrup;
• Motivatit Seafoods, distributor of Gold Band Oysters processed using a patented High Pressure Process;
• USDA-ARS, SRRC, Sugarcane Research Unit; a farm devoted to research on new sugarcane varieties, diseases, and best management practices as the Sugarcane industry is vital to the Louisiana economy.
• Daniel Naquin Farms Inc., a family owned and operated farm.  The main production of the farm is sugarcane but the focus of the tour was the 15 acres of crawfish ponds to highlight this main staple of southern Louisiana.
• John Deere plant in Thibodaux, manufacturers of sugarcane harvesting equipment.

Friday evening following the tours was a free evening for delegates to spend in the French Quarter.

Day 4: Saturday, June 9, 2007

Saturday morning began with Breakfast with a State, an opportunity for delegates to learn more about another state’s AITC program.  Each table was identified by state and delegates could choose to have breakfast and conversation with state representatives.  This provided another informal setting for to exchange information and business cards.  We took this occasion to speak with a representative from the Utah AITC program to further discuss the national project “Growing a Nation” as Canada is interested in pursuing a similar national project.

Recognition of Monsanto Grant Winners, Agriculture in the Classroom Enrichment Grant Winners, and Partners took place following the breakfast.

The balance of the morning was devoted to the Concurrent Lagniappe Sessions.  (Lagniappe is old Creole for “A little something extra”.)  These 20 minute sessions followed a show and tell format and delegates could choose three different sessions to attend. 

Our session AITC Canada: The “Eh” B C’s of Agriculture Awareness and Education in Canada was offered during this time frame and was well attended each time.  During the first 10 minutes of each session we provided an overview of the goals and objectives of Agriculture in the Classroom and Agriculture Awareness programs across Canada with a more specific focus on activities in Manitoba and curriculum linked resources from Ontario.  Handouts to the participants included quick highlights of selected provincial programs, a Resource Catalogue from Ontario plus samples of resource materials. 

Hands-on activities to take back to the classroom are key components to the sessions provided at these conferences so the second 10 minutes of our session focused on the “Canola Crush” activity.  Participants each had an opportunity to crush Manitoba canola seeds to produce canola oil followed by a discussion of facts and information regarding this key crop grown in Western Canada.

Evaluations of the session indicated that the information about the “Neighbors to the North” was well received and that the hands-on activity could be adapted and used in the classroom.  Several participants indicated that more time was required and that they were appreciative of knowing more about Canadian programs, resources, and websites.

All participants strongly agreed the presentation was clearly and effectively communicated, concise, well organized, matched the program description, information provided could be utilized/adapted, and they would recommend the presentation to others.

Comments included:

“Great presentation – wish it could have been longer.”

“Really great to share interests between countries.”

“I like the willingness to communicate between our two nations.”

“This presentation should have been expanded into a full-blown workshop.  I would recommend these gals present next year!”

Saturday concluded with a Closing Luncheon and Invitation to the 2008 Conference followed by a Post Conference City Tour and Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi River.  The city tour focused on the historical French Quarter, the city Cemeteries and the reconstruction of the city following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  The dinner cruise was a nice conclusion to a very busy 3 day conference schedule and a great time to relax and reflect with newly made friends from across the U.S.

Next Steps:

Our participation at this conference has provided us with a broader perspective of Agriculture in the Classroom programs and resources across North America, both at the National and State levels.  We have already shared information gleaned from this conference with our colleagues across Canada and it has been our recommendation that we continue building a stronger relationship with the U.S. AITC programs.  At the suggestion of the 2008 U.S. AITC Conference Committee, we are submitting a proposal for two interactive workshop sessions for next year’s program.

To increase the networking and learning opportunities between the two countries, we will be recommending that State representatives and other guests be invited to participate as delegates and speakers at future National Agriculture Awareness Conferences in Canada.  It is clear that the goals and objectives for agricultural education and awareness programs on both sides of the border are similar.

The network of contacts made at the conference will be beneficial in the development of new educational resources that will be of (Canadian) national interest.  In particular, there is great interest between the provinces to model a resource focused on the History of Agriculture in Canada after the very successful U.S. resource “Growing a Nation: The Story of American Agriculture”.  Preliminary discussions have already taken place to learn more about the process and costs involved in developing this widely used educational resource.  Constant communications and sharing between the two countries will continue to strengthen the relationships and provide opportunities to learn and collaborate.

In closing, once again, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in New Orleans.  The keen interest and support you have provided in enhancing cross border communications regarding agriculture awareness and education is greatly appreciated.  It was truly a valuable experience that will benefit our programs in Canada and we look forward to continuing the relationship between the two countries.

Kindest regards,

Johanne Ross   P. Ag.                                             

Executive Director     

Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba                                             

Jan Robertson
Marketing and Communications Manager
Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.