March 2018 has once again been proclaimed as Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan.
Agriculture Literacy Month brings farmers, ranchers and other members of the agriculture industry into elementary school classrooms around the province to read stories and discuss their agricultural experiences. Materials for the classroom visits, such as books and videos, are provided by Agriculture in the Classroom – Saskatchewan (AITC).
“Agriculture Literacy Month is a great opportunity for students to connect with farmers, ranchers and other agriculture experts to learn about the safe, nutritious food produced in Saskatchewan,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said. “Some students might not have considered where their food comes from and this is their chance to ask questions and to think about the significance of agriculture in our province.”
Since 2012, Agriculture in the Classroom – Canada has been working collectively to declare one week in early March as Canadian Agriculture Week. Last year was the first time agriculture literacy was celebrated with events and activities for an entire month.
“This year’s theme is, Our Food. Our Story.,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “Agriculture Literacy Month allows students to take part in activities with local producers and hear stories about why they work in the agriculture industry. These experiences are the kind of learning that really makes an impression on students.”
“During the month of March, we have more than 150 volunteers sharing their personal agriculture stories with more than 7,500 of students throughout the province,” AITC-SK Executive Director Sara Shymko said. “We are grateful that this program is so well-received. Many young people grow up in cities and larger communities and aren’t involved in farming, so programs like these are a great way to strengthen students’ understanding of agriculture and the community involved in putting food in their lunchboxes.”
Source : Government of Saskatchewan