The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training at Penn State Extension invites conservation professionals across the Commonwealth to participate in 2025 Agriculture Literacy Week, happening March 17–21, 2025.

This is your chance to inspire young minds by volunteering to read this year’s ag literacy storybook in a local elementary classroom.

Choose a classroom that's meaningful to you—whether it's your child's, grandchild's, niece's, or nephew's—or forge a new connection with local teachers and students.

This year's featured book, The Soil in Jackie's Garden by Peggy Thomas.

The book follows Jackie and her friends as they uncover the wonders of soil, gardening, and composting.

Along the way, young readers will learn about plant life cycles, pollinators, and environmental stewardship.

Since 2017, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation has led this annual event, pairing agricultural professionals with K–2 classrooms to read an agriculturally themed book and lead an engaging lesson.

To support this effort, CACAT is sponsoring a book for up to 50 conservation district staff members.

Volunteers will be responsible for coordinating with local schools and teachers and donating the book they receive to the classroom library afterward.

Ready to inspire the next generation of ag conservationists?

Sign up now to receive your packet. Registration ends Monday, February 24, 2025, or once we hit 50 sign-ups!

Click Here for the announcement.

Visit the Center for Ag Conservation Assistance Training and the Pennsylvania Farm Show websites.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Resource Link:

-- Introduce Students Ages 8-10 On How They Can Be Stream Doctors In The New Book -- Brooke Meets A Stream Doctor  [PaEN]

Other Extension Articles

-- PA State Conservation Commission Wins Natural Resource Education Champion Award 

-- Get Your Passport To PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Ag Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4

-- Presentation Proposals Invited: 2025 Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators

-- Dive Even Deeper: Watershed Literacy And Tree Plantings Workshop [April 28-29]

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21

-- Master Watershed Steward Training Information Sessions

-- Conservation Project Inventory And Evaluation For Conservation Professionals

-- 2023 Agriculture Irrigation & Water Management Survey

-- Snow & Ice Removal At Schools: A Multi-Step Process To Ensure Safety

-- Recognizing, Understanding Pennsylvania Wetlands  (Swamps)

(Reprinted from the latest Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

Related Articles This Week:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Veteran Reporter Ad Crable Wraps Up 4 Decades Of Environmental Journalism  [PaEN]

-- DEP Awards $19.6 Million To Support 8 Local Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Projects In 6 Counties  [PaEN]

-- PA State Conservation Commission Wins Natural Resource Education Champion Award  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Funding Opportunities, County Water Restoration Projects  [PaEN]

-- Ag Conservation Professionals! Get Your Passport To 2025 PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4  [PaEN]

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21  [PaEN]

-- Choose Clean Coalition Now Accepting Presentation Proposals For 2025 Conference On Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Issues, May 19-21 In Virginia  [PaEN]

-- Presentation Proposals Invited: 2025 Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators  [PaEN]

-- Federal Ohio River Protection Act Legislation Would Address Pressing Water Quality, Conservation Needs In Ohio River Watershed  [PaEN]

-- Now On Demand: Penn State Extension Webinar On PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Land-Applied Biosolids - Research Update  [PaEN]

-- Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Now Accepting Proposals For Brook Trout Conservation Projects  [PaEN] 

-- US Fish And Wildlife & Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Eastern Hellbender As Endangered; PA’s Clean Water Ambassador  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Conservation Cornerstone: Jan. 28 Webinar On Climate-Smart Ag Project (CARAT)   [PaEN] 

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 16 Webinar On Winter Salting and Local Waterway Impacts: Opportunities To Work For Change  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Jan. 16 Webinar On Forest Carbon Markets And Payment Programs Expert Panel  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Scranton Times: Nearly $7 Million In Federal Funds Awarded To Reclaim Mine Land In Dickson City, Blakely

-- The Daily Item Guest Essay: Potential Cuts To Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Cleanup - By Sophia Evans, Dickinson College Student  [PDF of article]

-- WNEP: Massive Mine Subsidence Swallows Schuylkill County Family’s Backyard Swimming Pool

 -- Republican Herald: Sinkhole Breaks Water Main In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County; Possible Abandoned Mine Subsidence

-- Republican Herald: Sinkhole In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County Linked To Abandoned Mines

-- WNEP: DEP Crews Working To Fill Mine Subsidence Sinkhole In Schuylkill County That Swallowed Swimming Pool

-- Post-Gazette: PA Farmers Turning To No-Till Farming Focusing On Bottom Line, Human Health 

-- E&E News/Politico: Congressional Lawmakers Push For Federal Focus On Ohio River Watershed Water Quality Woes

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Dec. 20 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Pennsylvania To Get Nearly $1 Billion In Federal Funds For Climate-Smart Ag Practices

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Endangered Status Proposed For Eastern Hellbender

-- Williamsport Sun: Fish & Wildlife Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Hellbender As Endangered

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Newsletter: Looking Back On 2024 And Looking Forward

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Reflection On A Remarkable 2024

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Young Mom Writes Children’s Book Inspired By Adventures With Daughter Along The River  [Donation From Sales Helps RiverKeeper]

-- Lancaster Farming: Environmental Groups Ask For Susquehanna River Pump Storage Hydro Permit Rehearing

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: This Dog Will Hunt For Rare Flowers In Bay Watershed

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Moves Harrisburg Office To Wildwood Park Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center 

-- MCall: Plans For Warehouse Near Busy I-78 Intersection In Northampton County Move Forward

-- MCall: Easton Residents Denounce Plans For Massive Warehouse At Old Pfizer Plant Near Residential Area

[Posted: December 19, 2024]

12/23/2024