Ag Literacy Week ran from March 16-20. During this time, volunteers from communities across the state visited classrooms and other student groups to read a book and talk about local farming. Ag Literacy Week connected volunteers from the agricultural community to local classrooms to share the story of agriculture. Readers who participated in Ag Literacy Week had the opportunity to talk about farming and agriculture through the book as well as share their own stories about farming, agriculture programs they are involved with, or any of their other various connections.

The week is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation. Each year, a book is selected for volunteers to read to students. This year, more than 2,400 books were presented to students.

This year’s book was “Cows Can Moo! Can You? All About Farms” by Bonnie Worth. The book introduced students to life on a farm in a fun and engaging way, showing how cows are milked, chickens are fed, sheep are sheared, and fields are planted and cared for. It helps students better understand how farms operate and where their food comes from, said Monet Bottenfield, vice president of the Bedford County Farm Bureau and vice chair of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee.

“The key of the book selected is that it accurately depicts what happens on today’s farms. One of the challenges is that many agriculture books may be dated and not reflective of what is happening on a farm in 2026,” said Charlene Espenshade, executive director of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation.

Brian Kelly, a member of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation board and a corn originator at Pennsylvania Grain Processing LLC, displays the book used at the Ag Literacy Week program at Tyrone Area Elementary School. Courtesy photo

The Bedford County Farm Bureau plays a significant role in the program.

“This year, we ordered the books and materials through the Friends of Agriculture Foundation and donated them to the three county FFA chapters (Bedford, Chestnut Ridge and Northern Bedford) so they can visit elementary classrooms and read to students,” Bottenfield said.

Bottenfield said the goal of the program is to help elementary students better understand where their food comes from and the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.

“Many children today are several generations removed from the farm, so programs like Ag Literacy Week help bridge that gap by introducing them to farming, food production, and the people who work hard to provide our food, fiber, and fuel,” Bottenfield said.

Central Cove FFA has been a regular participant in Ag Literacy Week to help educate the next generation of agriculturists in the community.

FFA Student Paige Hoy reads to students during the Ag Literacy Week program at Tyrone Area Elementary School. Courtesy photo

“Our hopes are that the young students learn something new about agriculture and it sparks an interest for them to one day join an agriculture class when they are old enough,” said advisor Heather Van Winkle.

Van Winkle took about 30 FFA members to help with the event and read to about 110 students.

Southern Huntingdon County High School FFA is also a regular participant, with members visiting about 300 elementary students during the week.

“The future of agriculture lies in our schools — elementary, middle and high schools. Agriculture literacy week activities allow our middle and high school students to connect with elementary-aged children to start the curiosity, awareness and interest in agriculture from a young age,” advisor Mikara Price said.

Price said elementary students will potentially join the agriculture program in the future, so it’s important to give them a basic understanding of where their food comes from at a young age. The information is also helpful to the average consumer, even if they choose not to be involved in the school’s ag program.

Ag Literacy Week benefits both older and younger students.

“The middle and high school agriculture students benefit by practicing leadership and communication skills through completing agriculturally related activities with the elementary students. The elementary students benefit by gaining exposure to, or a reminder, that agriculture is an important part of their lives,” Price said.

Tiereney Jamison and Maverick Huntsman were among the Southern Huntingdon FFA members participating in the week.

“I wanted to give the students an opportunity to learn more about agriculture and it is fun to interact with the elementary students,” Jamison said.

“I participated so that I could teach younger students about agriculture and FFA,” Huntsman said.

Van Winkle said the program teaches the older students patience, understanding and compassion since they have to slow down and teach at a rate that is suitable for the younger children.

“The FFA members also get an understanding of what it might be like to teach an entire classroom of students, and find out how much some young students know or don’t know about an agriculture topic,” Van Winkle said. “There have been many times that my high school students were shocked at the knowledge some of the kindergarteners had about agriculture at such a young age.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.