What does it mean to be agriculturally literate?

What does it mean to be agriculturally literate? We sought to answer this question through research and industry collaboration. The resulting "Pillars of Agricultural Literacy," approved by the Foundation Board of Directors, offers learning expectations by age group within six key pillars of agricultural knowledge. It is a valuable asset for educators who desire to communicate consistent agricultural messages.

The six pillars include the relationships between:

• agriculture and the environment

• agriculture and food, fiber and energy

• agriculture and animals

• agriculture and lifestyle

• agriculture and technology

• agriculture and the economy

Each pillar is broken down into expectation by grade level. This tool was designed for people planning and managing agricultural literacy programs and initiatives; people who are starting to look at their agricultural literacy efforts from a high level, in order to develop resources that communicate consistent agricultural messages.

This resource offers a way to identify critical issues, pick a target age group, and look at key messages to share within this age group. People who have a vested interest in agricultural literacy are encouraged to use this as a starting point when developing resources for fairs, festivals, classrooms, on-farm events or other learning experiences. Download the Pillars of Ag Literacy. 

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