Students give thanks by thanking a farmer

This Thanksgiving season, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has created an activity to help young students understand how foods reach their holiday tables.

“Thank an American Farmer or Rancher,” a Thanksgiving-themed activity for pre-kindergarten and first-grade students, gives teachers suggestions about how to help children create thank-you letters or cards for America’s farmers.

The Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom program will partner with the AFBFA and promote the activity through social media, said Tammy Maxey, AITC senior education manager.

“American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has a great idea to thank farmers across the nation for providing the food and basic needs of our country and the world,” said Maxey who is an AFBFA board member. “We encourage families and classes to teach a lesson in saying ‘Thank you’ through participating in this event.”

A free lesson plan and a letter from a farmer, suggestions for books to read, class discussion ideas and more are available at agfoundation.org/projects/thank-a-farmer-or-rancher. Letters written by students as part of the activity will be given to farmers and ranchers in January at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, a nonprofit organization that receives financial and administrative support from Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. For more information visit AgInTheClass.org.