Tractor usage raises money for Agriculture in the Classroom

Farmers in Mecklenburg County raised money for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program this year by doing what they do best—farming.

Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau, through their Tractors for Agriculture in the Classroom fundraiser, tracked their hours spent on a tractor in March through November and donated 50 cents per hour to AITC. For 2014 they clocked 4,000 hours on their tractors.

James River Equipment in Ashland matched the total that Mecklenburg Farm Bureau members on John Deere tractors raised, which generated an additional $1,540 for AITC.

“James River Equipment is a big supporter of Agriculture in the Classroom, and we were thrilled to participate in this fundraiser,” said Clarissa Schick, the company’s marketing manager.

Virginia AITC is part of a nationwide effort to help teachers and students understand and appreciate agriculture, which is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest industry. The program provides training and materials to 1,900 educators each year, and its website atAgInTheClass.org provides teachers with Standards of Learning-aligned lessons, literacy activities and more. All AITC services are provided to educators at no cost.

The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. For information on supporting the foundation’s educational initiatives, visit AgInTheClass.org.