AITC News

The second half of Season 4 of the Great Canadian Farm Tour launched today with a visit to Winter’s Turkey Farm in Alberta!

Lyle Weigum showed us around his operation, sharing his expertise with students across Canada. Winter’s Turkeys specializes in raising free range and whole grain-fed turkeys primarily for the Thanksgiving and Christmas festive season.

Here’s a summary of some of the things we learned today:

• Free Range: Free range means the turkeys have access to a yard where they can roam outdoors whenever they like. Lyle says they give the turkeys items to keep them entertained, such as hay bales to climb on, and their yard is fenced to protect them from predators.
• Turkeys Don’t Have Teeth:  Without teeth, turkeys can’t chew their food. To help them digest, they’re fed grit (crushed up rocks), which goes into a muscle that grinds their food. Fun Fact: the turkeys at Winter’s Turkeys consume about three truckloads of grit every year!
• Unique Features: The red fleshy part above a turkey’s nose is called a “snood,” while the flap under its chin is called a “caruncle.” Both hens and Toms (male turkeys) have them, but they’re more pronounced in males.  

We had so much fun learning about turkeys! If you missed the tour, catch the recording here: WATCH THE TOUR 

Join us for the next stop of the Great Canadian Farm Tour on Wednesday, November 6 at 1 p.m. ET when we visit a robotic dairy farm in Quebec! You can register for that tour here: REGISTER FOR THE TOUR 

Thank you to Farm Credit Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for supporting the Great Canadian Farm Tour!

September 12, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) - The Great Canadian Farm Tour is back for its fourth season and, for the first time, it’s taking place in the fall to showcase an entirely different season in Canadian agriculture. From October through December, Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and its 10 provincial members invite students across the country to get a taste of harvest and experience fall operations in Canadian agriculture and food.

Season 4 kicks off on October 4 at a sea buckthorn farm in New Brunswick and includes tour stops at a pumpkin farm in Newfoundland and Labrador, a cranberry farm in British Columbia, and the most northern greenhouse apple orchard in the Northwest Territories. 

“By holding the tour in the fall, we are looking forward to showcasing a different flavour of agriculture,” says Luree Williamson, Acting Executive Director at AITC-C. “It’s a time of harvest, preparation for the festive seasons, and a shift in the rhythms of farm life. This season offers new learning opportunities for students to discover the seasonality of food production in Canada.”  

While all grade levels are invited to participate, the tours are targeted at students in kindergarten to Grade 6. All tours will be available in both English and French, with simultaneous translation and closed captioning for accessibility. Teachers will also receive curriculum-connected digital activity books to accompany each tour and keep students engaged. 

“As we kick off another school year, we’re excited to add the Great Canadian Farm Tour to our fall programming lineup,” says Williamson. “It’s going to be another busy year as our provincial members are preparing programs and resources to get agriculture and food education into classrooms, participate in fairs and host events across Canada.”

Many programs are already underway for our provincial members. AITC-PEI is distributing their Egg to Chick kits to classrooms across the island and AITC-SK is hosting Fall Food Farms for Grade 3 and 4 students throughout September and October. AITC-Manitoba is preparing for its popular Amazing Agriculture Adventure, taking place September 24 to 27. This year, the program has expanded to include students in Grades 3-6 and a special day just for high schools. 

The Great Canadian Farm Tour is made possible thanks to the generous support of FCC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who are both presenting partners and valued supporters of AITC-C. 

Read the full release.

August 7, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and its 10 member organizations create more than two million student experiences each year through the national collective’s programs and resources. With a goal to reach more students across the country, AITC-C is evolving its governance structure to strengthen its board for the future.

“Collectively, our board has decided to create a new governance structure for AITC-C to better serve our organization,” says Rebecca Sooksom, board chair of AITC-C. “We will be seeking board members who bring diverse experience and different skills to the table, which may include individuals from the agriculture and education sectors and those with specific areas of expertise, such as accounting or human resources, to ensure a well-rounded board of directors.”

AITC-C's new board will be independent and skills-based with a chair and eight directors. Individuals will be selected and invited to join the new AITC-C board of directors this fall, with a goal to have a new board of directors by the end of 2024.

AITC-C’s current board is comprised of one representative from each its member organizations: BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, Ag for Life in Alberta, Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan, Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba, Ontario’s AgScape, École-O-Champ in Quebec, Agriculture in the Classroom PEI, Agriculture in the Classroom New Brunswick, Nova Scotia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program and Agriculture in the Classroom NL.

Current board members will continue to serve until a new board is in place. A steering committee composed of the provincial Executive Directors will also be formed to ensure seamless coordination amongst the AITC Collective. AITC-C has appointed interim executive director, Luree Williamson, an AITC-C board member and executive director of Alberta’s Ag for Life, to manage the organization through this transition.

Read the full release here.

May 22, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and Farm & Food Care (FFC) are pleased to release the next edition of The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom e-learning resource. This innovative partnership aims to provide Grade 7-12 students across Canada with the opportunity to explore key topics related to the agriculture and food industry.

Designed as a comprehensive educational tool, The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom offers students the chance to engage with a wide range of topics, including the diverse individuals working in the agriculture and food industry, sustainable farming practices, the impact of climate change on agriculture, innovations in the field, animal welfare and much more. 

Through multimedia content, interactive modules and case studies, students will have the chance to delve into the complexities of modern agriculture while gaining valuable insights into the importance of sustainable food production. 

“Our partnership with Farm & Food Care has allowed us to create a dynamic educational resource to inspire and educate the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C. “By providing students with access to accurate and engaging information about agriculture and food production, we can empower them to make informed food choices.” 

“We’re so pleased to be able to work with AITC-C on this project. We’re often asked by educators about how they can use our publication in their classrooms, but that’s not Farm & Food Care’s expertise. Using AITC-C’s national network ensures that this award-winning resource reaches a much broader audience,” said Kelly Daynard, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Ontario.

First developed in 2021, this resource accompanied the fifth edition of The Real Dirt on Farming (RDOF) magazine. With the help of AITC-C’s provincial member organizations, this new e-learning resource will be available digitally along with the digital sixth edition of the RDOF magazine to classrooms across Canada.

May 16, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Adventurous Grades 6 to 8 classes across Canada embarked on an exciting sustainability journey this spring as the first explorers in Agriculture in the Classroom Canada’s (AITC-C) new Mission Explorium competition. 

Mission Explorium, which launched on February 19 and wrapped up in late April, challenged students from coast to coast to build a sustainable community after landing on a deserted island. Four weeks of cross-curricular activities engaged classes to work together to complete a quest each week that included work in science, math, language arts, visual arts and careers. Provincial winners took on one further challenge in the quest to become the national champion. 

Congratulations to Jaime Finlay’s Grade 8 class at Wawota Parkland School in Wawota, Saskatchewan for winning the inaugural Mission Explorium competition. 

 A panel of agriculture industry judges awarded top honours and a $750 cash prize to the Voyagers of the SS Finlay in a very tight competition. The judges were impressed by the Voyagers of the SS Finlay’s creativity, depth of development of their island in areas such as sustainability, culture and food, and their innovative storyline.  

“At Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, we are always looking for new ways to cultivate curiosity about agriculture,” says Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C. “Mission Explorium is a fun and interactive way to engage students across Canada to work together and learn about where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture in any society.”

 A total of 215 classes from BC to the Maritimes and Northern Canada participated in the inaugural Mission Explorium competition. The feedback from the teachers and students who participated in the first edition of the program will be used to refine and enhance the competition for the next round, which is expected to launch in early 2025. Funding for the development of Mission Explorium was generously provided by contributions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

April 11, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and its 10 provincial members are taking students on virtual tours of farms and growing operations in every province this spring with Season 3 of the Great Canadian Farm Tour (GCFT).

This year, the season kicks off with a tour to an alpaca farm in Ontario on April 11 and includes tour stops through the month of May to explore vertical farming in BC, see a cricket operation in Manitoba, learn about greenhouse operations in Quebec and Nova Scotia and experience oyster farming in PEI. There is something new for everyone to learn about Canada’s rich agriculture story from coast to coast.

“Over the past two seasons, we have virtually travelled coast to coast visiting farms in each province with our provincial partners and there is still so much to explore thanks to Canada’s amazing agriculture industry,” says Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C. “The tours are a unique way to connect students with farmers to experience what it’s like on farms across Canada and learn more about the important role agriculture plays in our lives every day.”

Launched in March 2022 to celebrate Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM), the GCFT has created over 840,000 student experiences with 21 virtual farm tours over the last two years. The GCFT provides the opportunity for students and educators to connect and interact with Canadian farmers and food processors, who are eager to tell their stories of how they are working to produce safe, nutritious, and sustainable food.   

FCC is the presenting partner for the GCFT and a valued supporter of AITC-C.

Click for the full release.

April 9, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) has partnered with CropLife Canada to develop three curriculum-linked resources for educators and students across the country. 

 The interactive and engaging resources aim to help Grade 10 and 11 students explore some of the realities of modern farming by seeing what it takes to successfully grow carrots, turnips and potatoes. The resources draw on CropLife Canada’s Real Farm Lives documentary web series, which was created to showcase the work and lives of farm families across the country. Season 3 of Real Farm Lives, which the resources are focused on, features the McKenna family from Prince Edward Island, who are deeply committed to growing high-quality food for their family and families across the country while leaving the land in better condition for the next generation. 

 “Teachers play an instrumental role in shaping the future of our next generation by guiding students towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of the vital role agriculture has to play in our lives,” said Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C. “By fostering a deeper understanding of our agriculture and food system, we empower students to become informed citizens and stewards of our planet’s future.”

 AITC-C and CropLife Canada both believe in providing accurate, balanced and current information to educators to promote agriculture education in Canadian classrooms. Resources like these help students build knowledge around key ideas such as food preparation, food waste and crop protection. 

Click for the full release. 

March 1, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and its 10 provincial partners are celebrating agriculture in classrooms across the country this month during the 13th annual Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM).  

With the goal of connecting students with farmers and other agriculture industry professionals, CALM is a national celebration every March to share Canada’s rich agriculture and food story with students from K to 12. AITC organizations in each province will offer uniquely different activities aimed at helping students learn about agriculture in an interactive and engaging way.  

“We want to cultivate curiosity and encourage students to learn more about where their food comes from,” says Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C. “CALM is a great opportunity to connect students with agriculture and share Canada’s amazing agriculture and food story.” 

A new storybook, All The Farmers You Will Know, will be introduced to younger students during CALM. Written by WS Marketing, it highlights the wonders of the modern farm and the farmers and families who work and live on them. Youth are encouraged to visit www.iamthefuture.ca to use an interactive new video tool to see themselves in a career in agriculture and food.  

Last year, AITC partners from coast to coast created over 184,000 student experiences during CALM. Hundreds of industry volunteers will visit classes across Canada again this March to share presentations, activities and personal stories to help students learn more about agriculture.  Cargill is the presenting partner for CALM and a valued supporter of AITC-C.  

February 28, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) both recognized Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) as the leader in agriculture education by providing official endorsements for AITC-C at the CFA’s annual general meeting in Ottawa today. Last year, AITC-C and its 10 provincial member organizations provided over two million student learning experiences from coast to coast.

“It is with great pleasure that we share our support for the important work that AITC-C is undertaking to educate students and teachers about agriculture,” said Keith Currie, Chair of the CFA. “Our organizations share a common vision for building public trust and helping to ensure a trusted, sustainable, and vibrant agriculture sector in Canada.” 

Currie said the CFA looks forward to continued collaboration with AITC-C and the shared commitment to promoting the importance of agriculture in Canada. For example, both organizations are committed to the National Workforce Strategic Plan for Agriculture, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, which highlights the need to educate the next generation and future workforce about the agriculture industry in Canada. 

Peggy Brekveld, Chair of CAHRC, also demonstrated her organization’s support for the important work that AITC-C is doing to educate and inspire students about agriculture.

 "The National Workforce Strategic Plan clearly points out the need for the work of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada and collaboration amongst industry to raise awareness of the opportunities in agriculture, starting with students at all levels,” says Brekveld. “CAHRC supports the great work of AITC-C on this front and it is with great pleasure that CAHRC formally supports and partners with AITC-C.”

November 1, 2023 (Headingley, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) has partnered with McCain Foods to encourage high school students to explore the endless career opportunities within agriculture in celebration of Career Month in Canada. 

To kick off Career Month, an annual national event celebrating the importance of accessing meaningful work, high school students across Canada were invited to participate in Explore the Possibilities, a virtual career exploration event designed to discover the opportunities to work in the agriculture and agri-food sector.  

This morning, the Explore the Possibilities event featured a panel of four McCain employees with diverse backgrounds who shared their career journeys and insights to inspire students to consider a career in agriculture. AITC-C moderated the event, highlighting the variety of careers and opportunities at McCain, a leader in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry and the world’s largest manufacturer of potato products.  

“Agriculture is requiring ever more diverse skill sets as we see exciting new technologies coming into the industry and use data to improve efficiency on farm and throughout the entire supply chain,” said Daniel Metheringham, Vice President Agriculture & Sustainability North America Potato. “People are key to pushing forward the industry, and there is an array of exciting roles available to help transform sustainable farming and the future of food.” 

“The future of agriculture is sitting in classrooms today,” says Sara Shymko, Interim Executive Director of AITC-C. “Thanks to the support of valuable partners like McCain Foods, we want to inspire the next generation of big thinkers, decision-makers, and leaders to be part of agriculture’s future.” 

More than 3,300 students from 58 schools across the country participated in the virtual panel earlier today. Teachers can still share the panel with their classrooms by accessing the link at AITC-C's YouTube channel.