Illinois Fertilizer
Conference Proceedings
January 21-23, 2002
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Kevin Daugherty, Rebekah Anderson and Julie Duis1
The Illinois Farm Bureau® Agriculture in the Classroom Department led by Education Manager Kevin Daugherty developed, coordinated, distributed and provided in-service education concerning the Illinois Ag Mag "Digging In". In-service education on this material has occurred for both non-formal in-service providers (volunteers) and for teachers at a variety of county programs, the Illinois Farm Bureau® Summer Agricultural Institutes (held at over 30 colleges, universities, community colleges and learning centers around the state) and at conferences we attend throughout the year. Illinois Farm Bureau's Promotion and Graphic Arts Department coordinated the layout, design and production of this product.
Illinois Farm Bureau® has been the state contact for the national Ag in the Classroom program, which began in 1982 under the leadership of then Secretary of Agriculture John Block. During the 2002-2003 school year over 325,000 students were reached through a statewide effort involving every county in the state. We expect a 10% increase in students reached in the 2004-2005 school year. This proposal funded 110,000 copies of the Ag Mag, with a shelf life of 12 months. Bundled in classroom sets of 30, this is an outstanding resource for teachers around the state. Illinois Ag Mags have won a number of awards for the delivery of content material. In an informal survey of Illinois County Agriculture Literacy Coordinators, the need for Soil and Fertilizer educational materials ranked second in a list of 10 behind poultry/entomology. These specialists work with schools and school children throughout the year and see a need for current, grade level appropriate and factual information about soils and fertilizer.
Since the early 1970's County Farm Bureau® members have taken lessons about agriculture into local schools and offered farm tours to help children and their teachers understand more about the food and fiber system and their role in it.
Results of a survey conducted by Illinois Farm Bureau® for a FREC project in 1999, show that consumers in and around Peoria, Illinois have concerns and hold some common misconceptions about the effect of fertilizer on water quality from home, commercial and farm use. A media campaign to reach the general public and provide factual information about fertilizer will target adult viewers. The Illinois Ag Mag will reach an upper elementary audience, thus promoting further discussions at home.
An exhaustive search of fertilizer information found little currently available to allow teachers to teach about soils and fertilizers. The Potash and Phosphate Institute, the Potash and Phosphate Institute of Canada, and the Foundation for Agronomic Research have a coloring/activity book for grades K-3 titled "Fun with the Plant Nutrient Team". They also offer a formal guide featuring super hero characters for nitrogen, micronutrients, secondary nutrients, potassium, and phosphorus more appropriate for upper elementary students. The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts also has limited materials available for classroom use. This project would focus on soils of Illinois and how the soils, enhanced with fertilizer, promote Illinois high-yield agriculture.
By reaching out to upper elementary students through the established Agriculture in the Classroom county contacts, factual information about the application and use, as well as the effects of fertilizer can be disseminated. At Agriculture in the Classroom, we realize the importance of providing accurate information to students from urban and rural areas, about issues that affect their food and fiber production systems.
This project was divided into four distinct phases. Each phase is detailed below.
This project is essentially a re-print of an earlier funded FREC project explaining the use of Fertilizer and Chemicals in the agricultural setting. In phase I of this project we looked at the existing Ag Mag, and paired it with teacher comments from the past year. One major correction that had to be made was that there was no minority representation in the career section of the Ag Mag. While a small section of the product, it is important that school children from across the state be able to visualize themselves as a part of the agriculture industry. Ben Mingo was selected as the new career feature. His interview was conducted and his photograph secured.
In May 2004, the Illinois Farm Bureau Art Department took the rough layout and added graphics, color, and design. At this stage, additional copies were circulated among a panel of experts for input and comments. These included:
Lisa Martin, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, PO Box 186, St. Anne, IL 60964, lisam@ifca.com
Debbie Ruff, Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District, Agriculture Literacy Coordinator 1510 West Reynolds, Pontiac, IL 61764 815-844-6127 rdr73@hotmail.com
Various other County Agriculture Literacy Coordinators
On July 15, 2004 the final copy was shipped to Original Smith Printing, Bloomington, Illinois to be printed on recycled paper using soy ink. Final copies were shrink-wrapped in classroom sets of 30 copies. A total of 110,000 copies (3667 classroom sets) were printed. Delivery to Illinois Farm Bureau® occurred on August 4, 2004. Distribution of the Soil and Fertilizer Ag Mag began in Earnest on November 26, 2001. Individual copies of these were shipped to every County Farm Bureau® in the state of Illinois, to the 56 Illinois Ag Literacy Coordinators, and to our external mailing list of over 210 interested in promoting and providing agriculture literacy. Additionally, through the network of the USDA Agriculture in the Classroom system, 1 package of Ag Mags were mailed to every state Agriculture in the Classroom contact, including those in U.S. Possessions Guam, Micronesia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. A black and white computer file of this Ag Mag is attached as Exhibit A. The Ag Mag is featured prominently on our website at www.agintheclassroom.org.
Illinois Farm Bureau® Agriculture in the Classroom program conducted an assessment to insure that stated objectives were reached for this final report. In addition to contacting teachers, we also worked with conference attendees at the ISWCD Winter Meeting to complete a survey about the Ag Mag. Teachers and ISWCD attendees most like the amount of science based materials that are included in the ag mag. Suggestions for subsequent issues would be to include a timeline of what happens while one inch of topsoil is being formed (to show how long it takes), and to show an actual soil profile. Teachers most like the experiential learning that works with the Soil Sam, as much more than a demonstration. The students like to be able to see something grow relatively quickly, but by varying soil types, adding fertilizers, and varying fertilizer amounts is of high interest to the students.
To date the Soil and Fertilizer Ag Mag "Digging In" is receiving high marks around the state and across the country. Recently, Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom Director Donna Reynolds called to place an order for additional Ag Mags (we sell the Ag Mags at cost to those outside the state of Illinois). She remarked that she had been searching for a soil and fertilizer resource for an upcoming unit she is developing. She stressed that there is not a product appropriate for elementary grades available, and offered generous compliments and praise. Addition comments have been fielded from many Ag Literacy Providers and County Farm Bureau Managers. Teachers also have expressed their excitement in the project. Melissa Clark, 3rd Grade Teacher, Webster Elementary School, Clinton, Illinois remarked on how she was able to use the Ag Mag as a follow up to an Soil Sam Project they did earlier in the school year.
Illinois Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom is grateful for the opportunity to reach student across the state of Illinois, and around the nation with accurate information about the food and fiber system. Through the "Digging In" Ag Mag, students will have an accurate representation of the soil and fertilizer from which that food and fiber get their start.
1 Kevin Daugherty is the Education Manager for the Illinois Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom Program. Rebekah Anderson serves this program as the Education Specialist and Julie Duis is the Education Coordinator.
We are grateful for our reviewers, and thankful for the guidance of the FREC Committee.
