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First National Agjr ~ it was an historic occasion when more than 120 education and agri- culture representatives from eight Canadian provinces and one US. state gathered in London, Ontario April 13 to 15 to discuss their particiâ€" pation in Agriculture in the Classroom. The first of its kind in Canada. the national conference was sponsored by Southwestern Ontario Women for the Support of Agriculture and funded in part by the federal and provincial ministries of agriculture The goal of the conference was to challenge the educator. agribusiness representative. government agency and agricultural organization leader to facilitate the training and leader- ship development of volunteers for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC). Participants were challenged to form a national network for AITC. These were challenges that participants approached with great enthusiasm. Keynote speaker Saskatchewan Minister of Education Lorne Hep- worth. clearly explained the impor- tance of Agriculture in the Class- room. Citing the increased urbaniza- tion of soeiety. he warned that Canada “is in danger of fostering an agriculturally illiterate society" if our young people don't learn about agri- culture. He emphasized that “society needs to have a larger understanding of the important. complex and cona temporary issues we face and that our children will face in the future.” Today's youth find our agriculture courses boring, Hepworth said. He warned, “We are in danger of failing those of our young people who are headed for a career in agribusiness or in farming.” He challenged the educators when he said, “We are failâ€" ing our young people in relevancy. We are not meeting their expectations, never mind we are not challenging them?‘ Today a farmer needs informa- tion, knowledge and a finely trained mind. l-lepworth expressed concern over the possibility of a schism developing in society with the urban population versus the rural population. “Agri- culture is an issue that has the potential to be the leading edge of the wedge. If for no other reason. Agriculture in the Classroom is important to prevent this schism from developing? Hepâ€" worth added. Other conference speakers echoed Hepworth's concerns. Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Jack Riddell talked about the image problem of agriculture today. He pro- posed that students need to learn a new set of ABC’s. A is for agriculture, B is for big business and C is for AG'RICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM LAGRICULTURE 'DANS LA SALLE Pt'critred above are members of the organizing committee for the National Agriculture m the Clasrroom Conference. At the podium is Suzanne Leitch. chair- man. Behind her, from left to right are Jean Johnson, Sharon Weir I Lul'onne Stephen and Debbie Steele. ze’ Pat mud, l iie’ml'éli’éfiefif Emiififafwmmy‘ _ ors and agricultural organizations to work together to tell one clear and compeu. ing story â€" not 48 different ones One of the most inspiring speakers was Mark Linder, program director California. Farm Bureau. In California: the largest farm state in the US 79,000 farmers produce $14 billlol; worth of farm products annually. The population of Los Angeles alcme j; 10 million. - Linder and his staff have developed some unique agricultural awarenesa programs. The farm day program is a two-day elementary school program where students View farm animals and talk to farmers in their own inner city school yards as well as see a slide show. The Summer Agricultural Insti! tute is a five~day comprehensive proâ€" gram on agriculture for professionals in education. It includes an overnight visit with farm families; an aerial tour of California's agriculture, and classroom activities that lnCiiltlE lectures on a wide variety ut‘ agricultural issues and topics. Conference delegates attended workshops on The Role of Aeri- business; Funding and Propmal Development; Public Awareness; Careers; Teacher Training and Cutti- culum Development. At the round table discusswns. about 15 individuals involved in AITC programs eagerly shared their ideas and resources with COHfElIJlCB delegates. Enthusiasm for the future of AITC was still high at the end of the con- ference. Delegates made some major recommendations at both the pron-inâ€" cial and national level: 1. There should be Coordination of efforts among all groups involved in AITC. 2. Form a national organizing committee to act as a clearinfi‘ house and publish a regular news- letter to exchange agricultural in- formation and promote agfiCUlwmI awareness. 3. Organize and promote a second National Al'IC Conference in 953- Carolyn Murray is the secretary "f "‘9 Southwestern Ontario Women for the Support of Agriculture. 6 H St C July, August, September 1987