A Delaware Farm Bureau agricultural literacy coordinator made the trip to Providence, Rhode Island on June 21st to take part in the National Ag in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) Conference.
The week kicked off with a full-day session on Monday alongside program leaders representing all 50 states, as well as the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. That gathering covered an introduction to the conference, a presentation of awards, planning discussions for future meetings, updates from NAITCO’s executive director and president, and a review of important details related to the NAITCO Curriculum Matrix.
Throughout the rest of the conference, the coordinator explored new ways to get students more engaged with agriculture inside the classroom, visited local agricultural education programs on guided tours, and listened to presentations from some of New England’s most prominent voices in the agriculture industry.
One of the most valuable parts of the experience, according to the coordinator, was having meaningful conversations with program leaders and educators from around the country — all with an eye toward strengthening Delaware’s own Ag in the Classroom efforts. Because the conference was designed with educators in mind, extensive notes were taken to share with Delaware teachers back home.
Looking ahead, the coordinator expressed a strong desire to see more representation from Delaware at the next NAITCO Convention, set to take place in 2027 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
