Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom will be traveling to several different locations today through Thursday for their Bedlam Series Summer Road Trip. Farm Director, KC Sheperd caught up with the professional development coordinator for Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom, Melody Aufill, at the Oklahoma Department of Ag, Food and Forestry, which is the first stop of the trip.
The day kicked off with Suzie Southwest Dairy giving a dairy cow milking presentation in front of ODAFF.
“We are so excited to take 51 teachers with us to do ag bedlam,” Aufill said.
The group will spend some time in Norman at the University of Oklahoma, Aufill said, and then travel to Stillwater for Oklahoma State University. Other stops on the trip include but are not limited to a horseshoeing school, OSU’s FAPC, and the Beef Purebred Center.
Aufill said the trip is a good opportunity to introduce many teachers to agriculture. The teachers attending the trip are from all around the state, teaching all grade levels, Aufill added.
“Some of them have a background in agriculture, and some of them do not,” Aufill said. “We are excited to introduce them to all things ag.”
The Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom was introduced in the 90s, Aufill said, and provides lessons and resources for all teachers in all grade levels.
“The main thing that we do is professional development, so we can teach the teachers how to teach students about agriculture even if they do not have a background in agriculture,” Aufill said. “Our lessons and resources provide that information, and all of the resources that we have for teachers are free to request online.”
Aufill also talked about the upcoming Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom conference coming up on July 25. Farm Director, KC Sheperd, will be attending the conference as the keynote speaker for the event.
“Hopefully, we will have around 300 teachers,” Aufill said. “You can register online.”
To sign up for the 2023 Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Summer Conference, click here.
