A middle school instructor from Bedford County has received Virginia’s highest recognition for weaving agricultural concepts into her teaching curriculum.
Cindy Watson, who teaches at Forest Middle School, has been selected as the 2026 Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. The honor celebrates educators who successfully blend farming topics with standard academic subjects.
The recognition highlights Virginia educators who effectively weave agricultural themes into their regular lesson plans.
Watson builds her exploratory science and robotics design courses around agricultural foundations, creating hands-on STEM experiences for students. Her technology-focused lessons help pupils grasp how farming affects everyday life while dispelling outdated beliefs about contemporary agricultural practices.
“Cindy’s application of agriculture in her curriculum enhances her students’ agricultural literacy and sparks curiosity,” said Lynn Black, Virginia AITC director of education. “By connecting farming with STEM concepts, she’s helping students become more informed and responsible adults who understand where their food comes from, and the vital role agriculture plays in our world.”
Watson’s classroom activities have included challenging science projects such as NASA’s Plant the Moon initiative, Growing Beyond Earth experiments, and Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant studies. These educational experiences allowed students to investigate agricultural fundamentals including plant genetics, soil composition, hydroponics systems, and nutrient cycles while gathering and examining plant development data.
Her curriculum also incorporates robotics technology, unmanned aircraft systems, and computer modeling to study pollination processes and food production ecosystems, natural disaster impacts, and intricate agricultural distribution networks. The robotics component introduces students to precision farming techniques and shows how farmers employ drones and GPS technology for crop management and operational improvements.
Watson’s lessons demonstrate career connections between agriculture and STEM fields, including programming autonomous harvesting equipment, applying biotechnology for drought-resistant crop development, and managing vertical farming operations. Her teaching approach emphasizes how science and technology drive modern agriculture and help innovation address global food security challenges.
“Students can figure out at a younger age whether this is something they’d want to pursue as a career,” said Watson, who grew up on a farm outside of Chicago. “I like to give my students opportunities they might not get somewhere else. This is my passion, and I’m fortunate to have a community that supports these programs.”
Watson’s Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year recognition includes funding for the 2026 National AITC Conference scheduled for June in Providence, Rhode Island, plus a $500 monetary prize.
Additional details about the Teacher of the Year program are available at virginia.agclassroom.org.
The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to building agricultural understanding and appreciation through educational programs and community outreach. More information and support opportunities can be found at virginia.agclassroom.org.
Questions can be directed to Black at [email protected] or 804-350-3596.
