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OFBF Promotion and Education specialist Judy Roush completes her term as president of the national Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium later this month. The consortium is composed of representatives of each state’s Ag in the Classroom (AITC) program. Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John Block created Ag in the Classroom in 1981; 2006 marks its 25^th anniversary.

The consortium was formed in 1997 to give a collective voice to state AITC programs. It maintains an active national role in promoting agricultural literacy programs, provides input into the selection process of the national AITC director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides leadership and a professional network for state AITC programs.

Roush has been active in AITC since 1984 and has served previously as secretary and regional representative for the consortium. She said Ag in the Classroom has grown since its inception; every state, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories have programs. But she said, "The program happens because of grassroots, volunteer efforts." She also said American Farm Bureau is an important partner in the program at the national level. "AFBF, through its foundation, is always developing new resources for the entire network that can be used by anyone. The foundation is creating the materials for teachers to use."

Two accomplishments Roush highlighted during her term as president are USDA’s "Growing a Nation", an American history program for secondary teachers that features the story of American agriculture, an event timeline and lesson plans and the updated national Web site, www.agclassroom.org.

According to information AFBF compiled, 5 million students learn about agriculture and the food and fiber system each year because of Ag in the Classroom. Ohio’s program is implemented through Promotion and Education chairmen and volunteers. Some successful programs include the COSI on Wheels "Agriculture Adventures" traveling exhibit; "Lessons in Economics", which incorporates agricultural concepts into fourth through sixth grade economics lessons; "Producing Ohio", an economics curricula for fifth and sixth grade students, and "Windows on Your Waterways", a guide for science teachers that focuses on ecosystems, land use and local issues.

Roush will officially hand her gavel over during the AITC national conference June 20 to 24 in Atlantic City, N.J. She will serve on the consortium’s executive committee next year.