By Tanner Hood

More than 30 Alabama middle and high school teachers gathered around rows of corn and cotton at Auburn University’s Old Rotation June 24-25 to learn about soil and seed impacts on the state’s top crops. 

For many, this was their first time receiving education on agricultural products and practices — an experience provided through Nourish the Future (NTF) and sponsored by the Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Checkoff. The national education initiative introduces teachers to food, fuel and fiber production.

“This curriculum is wonderful, and I’m looking forward to bringing it to the kids and actually doing hands-on work,” said Karlyn Greene-Watson, a teacher at Lott Middle School in Mobile County. 

Greene-Watson has guided young minds as a reading teacher for 24 years but recently began offering ag classes. 

“I basically teach a gardening class that started as an elective,” she said. “This institution has been interesting because they’ve shown us the science behind farming. Opportunities like this are helpful to gather resources and ideas for my class because it’s kind of being invented along the way.” 

Teachers who attended NTF’s Feeding and Fueling the World Workshop received insights in fisheries, row crops and soil sciences. The educators stepped in the lab to learn about biotechnology and animal sciences; they also heard from Garrett Dixon, a Lee County row crop farmer. 

“We got to visit with Garrett in such a beautiful setting at Lazenby Farms,” Greene-Watson said. “He shared with us the whole process of raising corn and other crops and allowed us to see the tractors and maintenance of that machinery. This is going to be important for my school year and planning some of the activities we’ll do in class.”

Greene-Watson added part of her program is aimed at developing leaders. She said a new priority is bringing local farmers into the classroom to show students how the lessons they’re learning can translate to real life. 

Billingsley School’s Gylendora Davis echoed Greene-Watson. 

“This has been phenomenal because I get to see firsthand what students get to do after school and introduce them to new careers,” said the Autauga County educator. “I want to partner with our students who come from an ag background and maybe bring their parents into the classroom and allow the kids to see local farms and farmers.” 

Alabama Farmers Federation Wheat & Feed Grain Division Director Carla Hornady said sponsoring initiatives like NTF ensures children learn accurate lessons about agriculture. 

“Many kids know nothing about the magnitude of work farmers do,” Hornady said. “Nourish the Future is essential to make sure teachers go back to their classrooms with factual information that allows them to show students the wide berth of possible jobs once they leave school.”