By Andi Anderson
Members of the Ohio State University Collegiate Farm Bureau recently visited a Columbus elementary school to share the story “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish.” The first graders listened closely, asked questions, and showed excitement about how dairy farming connects to the ice cream they enjoy.
One student even announced that he wanted to become a farmer, reflecting the impact of the visit. To complete the experience, the collegiate members rewarded the enthusiastic learners with ice cream, helping them connect the story to real‑world agriculture.
The Collegiate Farm Bureau hopes that the visit will leave a lasting impression on the students. Each of the twelve participating first grade classrooms will receive two reusable kits to support ongoing agricultural education.
The kits include a copy of the book, an educator’s guide, a reusable activity, a set of 30 Ag Mags, and a resources folder containing links and QR codes that teachers can use for future lessons.
These materials are designed to help students make long-term connections between farming, food, and daily life.
The project also offered valuable lessons for the Collegiate Farm Bureau members. They discovered that agricultural advocacy can happen anywhere — not only in government spaces but also in classrooms where young learners are eager to understand where their food comes from.
Their visit helped broaden the perception of their organization from being “just an ag club” to an active group making a real contribution to the community.
To support this outreach, the Collegiate Farm Bureau applied for a mini‑grant from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program.
This grant provides $500 to Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters for activities such as leadership development, community service, member recruitment, educational materials, and training events.
The funding helped supply the 24 educational kits distributed across the classrooms.
Through storytelling, hands‑on activities, and meaningful interactions, the Ohio State Collegiate Farm Bureau strengthened its commitment to agricultural education and inspired young students to explore the world of farming.
Photo Credit: ohio-state-university
Categories: Ohio, Education