There was a time when agriculture was a fabric of the school curriculum in Canada. Over time with the thrust of urbanization and farmers holding a smaller percentage of the population, agricultural education has found itself outside of the curriculum.
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITCC) has become the national body representing the nine provincial organizations exposing students to the connection of primary production and the food on the dinner plate.
This week, AITCC’s executive director, Johanne Ross appeared on RealAg Radio from the Grow Canada conference at Ottawa, Ont., to talk about the role her organization plays in agricultural education.
According to Ross, “AITCC is all about inspiring young people about this industry. Kids think a job in agriculture equals farming. There is so much more that we can talk to them about, whether it is about a career or the food on their plate.”
AITCC weaves itself into the current curriculum to make it easy, usable and fun for teachers. Volunteers across the country step up to participate in the program.
“We need to have the real story about agriculture being told,” she says. “Anybody would love to tell the story of food for us, and how food is produced, so we have to be the ones that tell the real story, so volunteers are a critical piece to what we do.”
The organization is a non-profit charity that relies on funding from stakeholders and partners to keep the organization thriving.
Listen to RealAg Radio host, Shaun Haney, speak with Johanne Ross, executive director at Agriculture in the Classroom Canada below.
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