Read an Accurate Ag Book Week Reaches Oklahoma Classrooms to Connect Students with Agriculture

Read an Accurate Ag Book Week is returning to classrooms across Oklahoma this September, aiming to introduce students to the realities of agriculture through engaging, factual literature. In a conversation with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Emily Ague, Ag in the Classroom state coordinator, shared how the annual initiative helps students understand the source of their food and fiber.

The initiative originally launched in 2018, created to center around National Read a Book Day on September 6. Ague explained that the emphasis is placed on “accurate” books to distinguish factual agricultural practices from fictional stories. While classics like Charlotte’s Web remain fun reads, Ague noted that spiders and pigs do not actually talk in real life, underscoring the organization’s mission to present an authentic look at the farm sector.

Participation has already swept across the state, with volunteers and schools representing all 77 Oklahoma counties signed up. Ague reported that 494 participants have registered so far, translating to roughly 28,000 students. Organizers anticipate those numbers will rise, as registration remains open through the end of next week to give educators and reading volunteers ample time to join. Last year, the program reached more than 29,000 students over a four-day span, and the team hopes to surpass that milestone this year.

Several high-profile state leaders will take part in this year’s event. Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur will visit a classroom next week to read to students, and Governor Kevin Stitt is scheduled to participate in the program for the first time. Additionally, at least 14 state legislators have paired up with local classrooms, alongside others coordinating visits independently.

Ague emphasized that the program accommodates diverse learning environments by offering a wide variety of reading materials. Volunteers and educators can tailor book selections to their specific communities, whether that means exploring urban gardening with children in city schools or highlighting cattle ranching in rural areas.

Ag in the Classroom operates with a three-person team consisting of Ague, Annie Davis, and Ashley Collyer. Because all three are former classroom teachers, they structure resources to ease the workload on current educators. The organization provides free, state-aligned lesson plans for pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, free professional development, grants, and student events. Ague highlighted that while they collaborate closely with 4-H and FFA programs, their core aim is to reach students who might never join those clubs, ensuring all youth develop basic agricultural literacy.

Beyond the reading week, Ag in the Classroom maintains a full autumn schedule. The program will collaborate with the Oklahoma State Fair during its second week for the State Fair Academy. The initiative bus fuel costs for participating second- through fifth-grade classes across the state. Ag in the Classroom staff will greet arriving students, explain the agricultural heritage behind fairs, and host an afternoon educational activity across four days of the event.

Additional upcoming dates include the Pork Council grant deadline on September 15, sponsored by the Oklahoma Pork Council, and the launch of the second annual Pizza Challenge on October 1.

Educators and volunteers interested in participating in Read an Accurate Ag Book Week can sign up on the organization’s website under the 2026 events section on the homepage or follow the links shared across their social media pages.

To make integrating these concepts seamless for busy educators, Ag in the Classroom provides an extensive library of free, turn-key resources directly on its website. Every lesson plan is fully aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards, allowing teachers to fulfill mandatory subject requirements in areas like reading, math, science, and social studies through agricultural themes rather than adding extra work to their day. In addition to downloadable curriculum, the program offers classroom recipes, activity sheets, and classroom grant opportunities to supply hands-on learning materials. The team also travels statewide to deliver free professional development workshops, walking educators through practical strategies to incorporate agriculture into their daily routines and ensure students build a lasting connection to where their food originates.

Have you registered for Read an Accurate Ag Book Week?

September 8–11

Join classrooms, clubs, and volunteers across Oklahoma as we celebrate agriculture through engaging, accurate agricultural books! Participate in your classroom or join us online each day for LIVE Zoom read-alouds featuring readers from across the state.