Spring is in the air, and you might be thinking it’s time to start your spring cleaning. Getting ready for the summer without all the clutter inside and outside. But have you ever thought about what a beef producer does for their spring cleaning? Perhaps someone washing tractors, working cattle, or updating records and paperwork comes to mind.   Though a beef producer does each of those tasks in the spring, they are also done regularly to keep the beef operation organized. One cleaning task that people overlook is the cleaning of feedlot pens.   When driving your car and yo ..read more

White Pine Tree What is the greenest crop in Iowa? You might say clover, corn, or grass but it is actually Evergreen trees. These trees are green year-round while those other species are harvested or go dormant during the winter months. Iowa’s Christmas Tree Varieties White Pine, Scotch Pine, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, and Blue Spruce are the six varieties of Evergreen trees that are grown in Iowa. These varieties are known for being able to withstand bitter winters and hot summers that Iowa experiences. The varying soil types and pH are other characteristics that these species are ..read more

We were able to travel down into the pasture to view the cattle. This summer, the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) team was busy traveling across the state of Iowa to host 7 different teacher professional development workshops. Each workshop had a unique theme and showcased the diversity of Iowa agriculture. For me, as a new member of the IALF team, it was a great way to get out and meet Ag in the Classroom staff members, area educators, and local businesspeople and farmers. I had such a great experience travelling across the state, sharing and learning about agriculture! Although I ..read more

In our rapidly evolving world, providing students with a foundational understanding of agriculture takes on a vital role. Beyond cultivating an appreciation for their food sources, agriculture literacy equips young minds with a diverse array of skills and provides a deeper connection to the environment and community that surrounds them. Agriculture is also one of the topics that students can easily connect to because they can apply concepts being learned. From the food we eat, clothes we wear, and even the fuel that powers the cars and busses we ride in, the resources for these materials come ..read more

The Iowa crew at the 2023 National Ag in the Classroom Conference, Orlando, FL One of my favorite parts of summer is going to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. This conference is held each year towards the end of June, and it brings together a group of educators that have a common passion, agriculture literacy. As a national conference the location travels around the US, and this year the conference was in Florida. Throughout the conference we were encouraged to “Go Beyond the Beaches” and explore Florida agriculture. I was ecstatic! I had only been to Florida when I was in ..read more

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean the learning has stopped. Not only have we been busy teaching all about agriculture, but we’ve been busy learning too! Between school programs, conferences, teacher programs, and summer workshops we’ve had the chance to meet a lot of people across Iowa and even the United States! Student Programs The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) participates in a variety of events throughout the year from field days to ag safety days and everything in-between. This spring and summer are no different and we have been busy teaching students about all types of ..read more

Hello! My name is Alyson McCarty and I am the new Education Programs Intern for this upcoming year. I was born and raised in Connecticut along the coastline of Long Island Sound. During my high school career, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at our local zoo. That program allowed me to spend my summers learning about a variety of animals and the care they require as well as educating visitors on the animals at the zoo. Getting to work hands-on with some of the animals was a major stepping stone in my future goals and passion for animals. I am currently in my third year at Iowa State ..read more

October in National Pork Month, or as some call it ‘Porktober.’ It’s a great opportunity to celebrate one of our state’s highest exports – pork. Iowa is the number one pork-producing state in the U.S. and the top state for pork exports, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Annually, farmers in our state raise nearly 24 million pigs at any one time. That means nearly one-third of the nation’s hogs are raised in Iowa. Pork Nutrition Facts Source: Canadian Pork Council Pork is packed with nutrition. The Institute of Medicine suggests that about 10-35 percent of your day’s total daily ..read more

Days are beginning to grow shorter, the wind cooler, and trees are beginning to decorate the horizon with color. The signs of fall often mean harvest and many farmers have begun to head to the field to reap the rewards of their spring plantings. Though many crops are done for the year, there is one Iowa crop that is being planted just in time to ward off vampires, garlic.   Garlic is a root vegetable within the onion family that is grown on many Iowa vegetable farms and is often used as a flavor enhancer in cooking. Garlic is a main staple in my household. Anytime we prepare a ..read more

Each year, the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) honors Iowa’s agriculture industry and its commodities including corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs through our Big Four cooking competition at the Iowa State Fair. “We invite aspiring chefs of all ages from across Iowa to showcase their culinary skills in two different divisions, sweet or savory, they can get as creative as they like and the only requirement is to use at least two of the big four Iowa commodity ingredients or a by-product of them,” stated IALF Executive Direction, Kelly Foss. This year’s entries were judged by commodity ..read more