This hybrid professional development course combines two in-person learning days with structured online coursework to support educators in bringing authentic agricultural experiences into their teaching. Designed for teachers, extension personnel, and youth educators working with grades pre-K–12, this course focuses on connecting food systems, agricultural production, and technology to core content areas, including STEM, social studies, science, and literacy. Instructional approaches are aligned with Iowa Academic Standards and emphasize real-world application and student engagement.

Participants will explore how agricultural products move through the food system—from production to processing to consumption—while examining the role of technology and innovation in modern agriculture. Through immersive site visits and collaborative learning experiences, educators will gain insight into diverse agricultural operations and discover ways to translate these experiences into meaningful classroom instruction.

The course prioritizes practical application, equipping participants with ready-to-use lessons, hands-on activities, and adaptable instructional strategies that can be implemented with minimal preparation. These strategies are designed to enhance student understanding of agriculture, strengthen problem-solving skills, and build connections between academic content and everyday life.

Face-to-face Location: Neola, IA

Day One:

• Participate in guided tours of poultry and beef processing operations, gaining insight into food safety, processing, and supply chains.
• Visit a local orchard and produce farm to learn about specialty crop production, seasonal growing practices, and direct-to-consumer marketing.
• Examine the journey of food from farm to table, including the roles of production, processing, and distribution.

Day two:

• Engage in interactive lesson demonstrations that model how to integrate agriculture into STEM and cross-curricular instruction.
• Learn from guest speakers representing agriculture and technology sectors, including insights into poultry production and large-scale food systems.
• Explore connections between agriculture, careers, innovation, and emerging technologies.
• Develop classroom-ready lessons and activities that promote critical thinking and help students connect agricultural concepts to real-world applications.