5 Benefits of Partnering with Outreach Educators!

Good afternoon! With the start of a new school year, I thought It would be timely to chat about the benefits of inviting an informal educator to visit your classroom. Our particular outreach mission is focused on teaching agriculture but the benefits of having a classroom visitor extend far past just one topic. According to Google, "informal education is a general term for education that can occur outside of a structured curriculum. Informal education encompasses student interests within a curriculum in a regular classroom, but is not limited to that setting. It works through conversation, and the exploration and enlargement of experience." Below are 5 benefits of partnering with an outreach educator!

But first, meet the educators behind Linn County Farm Bureau: Morgan Hibbs has been with LCFB for 4 years and oversees the day to day AITC outreach activities. Morgan farms/resides in Johnson County with her husband, Tyler and Son, Dean.

Paige McGovern has been with LCFB for 1 year and assists with AITC lessons, communication and outreach activities. Paige is currently a full-time student at UNI where she is studying child psychology and journalism.

Okay I have made you wait long enough! Here are 5 benefits of partnering with an outreach educator.

1.New experiences! Many outreach educators provide real-world activities and opportunities for exploration. For example, we offer a chick hatching unit every fall!

2. Hear from the experts themselves! Inviting career experts or guest presenters for specific lessons is a great idea. We offer FarmChat through our outreach program. Students have the opportunity to have a live Q/A with a real farmer.

3. Connect the Iowa Core Standards to real-world examples. Make learning relevant with students by showcasing how that standard might be used in everyday scenarios. For example we did a FarmChat with ISU football to learn about maintaining the grass field. We explored ways math and science are used daily by the ISU staff.

4. Outside opportunities bring a new perspective to the classroom. We offer workshops in the summer for local teachers to experience Iowa agriculture. Below is a picture of a field trip to a local farm here in Linn County. These opportunities are sure going to be remembered!

5. It is a fun experience for the students!

Here is what a few of our participating teachers have to say:

"I love being able to provide our children with science topics that are more local to our area."
"The outreach program exposed kids to topics they have never heard of before. The program provides new experiences and the activities are hands-on."
"Any time my kids can hear from a guest speaker whom brings in hands-on learning and high level of engagement is a win in my book."

Contact us today teo learn more babout our prog ram and thank ylou We offer workshops in the summer for local teachers to experience Iowa agriculture. Below is a picture of a field trip to a local farm here in Linn County. These opportunities will be remembered!