Ag Promotion & Education

April 21, 2008 - 9:48am

What is Agricultural Promotion and Education?

Washington Farm Bureau works with other agricultural education groups in Washington to help educate both young people and adults about farming practices in Washington.

Washington hosting 2008 AFBF Promotion & Education Conference

Washington is the proud host of the 2008 AFBF Promotion & Education Conference, Sept. 23-26, at the Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center in Kennewick.

The conference begins with an evening reception on Tuesday, September 23, and ends on Friday morning, September 26. Room rates are $89.95 per night plus tax for single/double rooms. Registration for the meeting is $150 per person. The deadline for both conference registration and hotel reservations is August 23.

This conference is open to Farm Bureau staff and volunteers who are interested in discovering new options for promoting and educating about our industry. The conference theme is “It’s not who you are…it’s what you do.”

The Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center offers excellent accommodations, convention facilities, regional food and wine, entertainment and recreation. In the heart of the Tri-Cities, the hotel is adjacent to the Columbia Center Mall, three blocks from the Three Rivers Convention Center and Toyota Center, minutes from Columbia Basin Community College, and 20 minutes from the Washington State University branch campus. There is easy access to seven nearby golf courses, plenty of shopping, boating on the Columbia and Snake rivers and fishing on the Yakima River, as well as windsurfing in the summer.

Airport transportation to and from the Tri-Cities Airport (PSCO) is complimentary.

The tentative program includes:

Encouraging agricultural promotion through internal unity and external diversity

Sharing successful programs

Financing your program

Creating Power Point® presentations

Using the media for special events (Ag Day, Food Check-Out Week, ASAP Week, Farm-City Week)

Panel discussion on building teams among Farm Bureau committees and programs

Tours under consideration include: food processing facilities, irrigation systems, the IMPACT Center at Washington State University, where new uses for agricultural products are being developed, and wineries.

For more information, contact Kristen Hinton, or call (360) 561-0387.

Looking for a Few Good Photos!

2007 Best in Show winner Are you a shutterbug just waiting to be discovered? If so, the WFB Ag Promotion Photo Contest might be just what you've been waiting for to earn your big break.

Entries are now being accepted for the 2008 contest. The deadline for 2008 contest entries is October 25, 2008.

List of 2007 WFB Ag Promotion Photo Contest winners (view many of the winning entries)

The basic idea is that "a picture is worth a thousand words." With that classic saying in mind, we’re looking for pictures to help us tell the Farm Bureau story.

Some possible categories are crops; livestock; faces of agriculture; harvest; ag machines in action; ag landscapes and/or wildlife of Washington; and a photo series: ag seasons of the year which should be comprised of at least three pictures. The goal of the contest is to gather a diverse collection of photos for display each year at our annual meeting. The ultimate, cumulative display will take place when Washington hosts the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in 2010 in Seattle.

The contest is open to all Farm Bureau members. To ensure that the photos represent agriculture in Washington, all photos entered must have been recently taken in Washington state (taken in 2006 or 2007). Any photo submitted should not have been previously published, accepted for publication, or be under consideration for publication by other entities.

WFB Ag Promotion Photo Contest general rules (Word or pdf), entry form (Word or pdf), and model release form are available. Good luck!

Washington Ag in the Classroom seeking Executive Director

Washington Ag in the Classroom, a successful non-profit organization that provides a school-based education program aimed at enhancing agricultural literacy in K-12 students and educators, is seeking a part-time Executive Director.

The position includes responsibilities of fundraising and support, the publication of popular “Ag@School” student magazine (three times per year), donor account management, administrative coordination, and assisting on WAIC projects. The Executive Director also represents WAIC at meetings, trade shows and other gatherings.

The ideal candidate should possess strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; strong time-management skills and ability to focus on priorities without direction; ability to work with a diverse volunteer Board of Directors; and proficiency in computer applications, including word processing, database (MS Access), and accounting (Quicken or QuickBooks) software, email communication, and file transmission.

The goal of Washington Ag in the Classroom is to help teachers, especially those with little knowledge of agriculture, integrate the study of this vast industry into existing curriculum. The WAIC office is located in Lacey (Thurston County) in the Washington Farm Bureau Professional Office Building.

For more information or to submit a resume for consideration, contact:
Washington Agriculture in the Classroom
PO Box 3638
Lacey, WA 98509-3638
(360) 528-2904
info@waic.net
www.waic.net

Who serves on the WFB Agricultural Promotion and Education Committee?

Robyn Meenach, chair

Lynda Pheasant

Amy Krautscheid

Linda Clerf

Joy Wilson

Barb Gady

Hal Meenach

Dean Farrens

Shan Trick

Whom should I contact for more information?

For more information, contact Kristen Hinton or call (360) 561-0387

Ag Education Materials Available

WFB Commodity Map poster

Enjoy a fascinating overview of Washington agriculture with the "Fresh Taste of Washington" commodity map produced by the Washington Farm Bureau. The 2007 poster profiles the state's $32 billion food and agriculture industry that contributes 12 percent of the state economy and employs 160,000 people. The poster is a great visual teaching tool.

For a free copy of the 24"x36" poster, contact Margaret Warren or call (800) 331-3276. Please provide your name, phone number, and shipping address in order to receive the poster.

In a state widely known for the production of jet planes and computer Celebrate Agriculture in Washington software, it's easy to forget that Washington is a leading farming state, contributing to the state economy more than $6.8 billion in farmgate value and $32 billion as a combined food and agriculture industry.

"Celebrate Agriculture in Washington" is a 61-page PowerPoint presentation that outlines the most current facts, figures, and unique characteristics of Washington agriculture. Learn about the seven growing regions of the state and how agriculture is flourishing as a result of the various land characteristics, geography, and climates in Washington. (Please note the PowerPoint file is 53.9 MB)

"Ten Things Kids Want to Know About Farming," a 22-minute educational videotape for Grades 4-6 produced by the American Farm Bureau Foundation, is available for loan from the Washington Farm Bureau.

To schedule the tape for viewing or to purchase a copy for $18.50, contact Kristen Hinton or call (360) 561-0387.

Also available is "Exploring Planet Pizza," a 12-minute video for grades 4-6 that explores where the ingredients come from for the typical pizza, including wheat, tomatoes, cheese and meat topping. Includes lesson plans, workbook pages, and fun activities.

An exciting 2006 publication and instructional package for grade levels 8-12 and all public audiences to address misconceptions about agriculture, nutrition, and the environment. "Addressing Misconceptions about Agriculture" may surprise, or even shock the learner. Each of the issues presented has been carefully researched and documented. Primary sources of information and peer-reviewed research are the basis for the positions taken. For more information, including how to order a copy, visit http://www.ageducate.org/news/misconceptions.html.