Ohio State Collegiate Farm Bureau Makes Ag Connections Through Ice Cream

Members of the Ohio State University Collegiate Farm Bureau this spring traveled to a Columbus elementary school classroom to share “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” with first graders who eagerly ate up all the college students had to share about dairy farming.

The engaged first graders actively listened as the book was read and asked several questions. One even declared his intention to become a farmer. The Ohio State students rewarded their eager learners and future farmers with ice cream, bringing the book – and a bit of agriculture – full circle for the young students.

The Ohio State University Collegiate Farm Bureau expects their impact on the first graders to go well beyond the few hours they spent with them. Not only will the children have made that farm to fork (or ice cream cone) connection in the classroom, they and 11 other Columbus first grade classrooms will each get two kits that include materials that can be used year after year. The kits include a copy of “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” and a related educator’s guide, 30 ag mags, a reusable activity and a resources folder that contains QR codes and links to all the materials online.

There were lessons for the collegiate Farm Bureau members, too. Those who participated learned that agricultural advocacy takes many forms and is as just as important and effective in the classroom as it is in the state capitol or Washington, D.C.

The endeavor also elevated the collegiate Farm Bureau in the eyes of students who would have previously described it as an “ag club.” By engaging with the young Columbus students, they showed they’re an active organization having an impact in the community while advocating for agriculture.

Collegiate Farm Bureau Mini-Grant Program

To help fund the classroom visit and the 24 kits they provided to 12 first grade classrooms in Columbus, the Ohio State University Collegiate Farm Bureau applied for a mini-grant offered by the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program. This grant provides $500 to Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters for activities such as recruitment, leadership development, community service, officer training, educational materials or conference registrations.