Richland County educators attending the recent SC Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Institute included (l- r) Nancy Davis and Cindy Floyd. Two Richland County educators recently completed a rigorous week learning about the importance of family farmers and domestically produced food, fiber, and fuel at the SC Farm Bureau (SCFB) 2009 Summer Ag in the Classroom Teacher Institute in Charleston, SC. Participants came away from the institute better equipped to teach their students about the sources of their food, fiber, forestry products, and fuel.

Nancy Davis and Cindy Floyd, both of Covenant Classical Christian School, earned a complete set of grade- specific lesson plans aligned to the State curriculum standards. These teachers also left the institute with numerous resources that can be used to teach students about agriculture and the benefits farmers add to the economy, the environment, and the community. Institute participants also received three hours of graduate credit (good towards their teacher re- certification) from Clemson University, courtesy of Farm Bureau's 501(c)(3) Ag in the Classroom program.

SCFB President and Sumter County farmer David Winkles said, "If agriculture is to maintain its status as South Carolina's largest business sector - providing more than 200,000 jobs and more than a $34 billion impact on South Carolina's economy - we've got to help people understand the link between their food, fiber and shelter and the farm. Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program is a tool to help us accomplish that goal through our state's teachers."