Annual Report 2007
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 345 Seekonk, MA 02771
Telephone: (508) 336-4426 Fax: (508) 336-0682
Website: www.aginclassroom.org
Dear Friend of Massachusetts Agriculture
Dear Friends of Massachusetts Agriculture:
This annual report summarizes the activities of Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. for the calendar year January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 and highlights events of interest for the coming year. MAC has finished another exciting and eventful year and we are pleased to share it with you.
Many thanks to all of our donors and in-kind contributors. We would not be able to continue without your generosity in annual giving. As I look over the list of donors, I see that many of you are so faithful in supporting this important organization year-after-year. I send to you my heartfelt thanks through this letter. An asterisk acknowledges those of you who contributed in both 2006 and 2007.
The volunteer board members who work in committees to make things happen are dedicated and invaluable. The Executive Committee met regularly, as did the full board to develop and execute the goals of the organization. These individuals represent every aspect of agriculture and education in our state and are dedicated to keeping the role and importance of agriculture in our curriculum.
The teachers who participate in our many programs -- the summer graduate course, annual conference, workshops on the farm or through mini-grants – are an inspiration. We appreciate the enthusiasm with which they seek ideas and resources to bring agriculture to life in their class-rooms and the way they share their insights with others.
A grant from the National Agriculture in the Classroom Program supported expanded educational offerings for our annual conference, workshops on the farm and Summer Graduate Course. The support of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, who contributed the printing of one newsletter and donated the sales from the Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar, is very much appreciated. The Massachusetts Lottery once again designated MAC as the vendor at the Big E, a major program benefit.
In 2007, we conducted our second Graduate Credit Course for educators and are now planning for a third summer. Fitchburg State College provided three graduate credits and each educator attended eight workshops held on farms across the state. The immersion into Massachusetts agriculture helped them to prepare lessons to take back to their students in the classroom.
Teachers tell us how much they appreciate and can use the materials presented in our graduate course, seventeen seasonal workshops on the farm that were held this year, annual winter Growing Minds through Massachusetts Agriculture Conference, mini-grants, informative seasonal newsletter and so much more. Each resource is filled with background information for teaching about agriculture and classroom ideas and activities to help teachers present agricultural concepts in a fun informative way.
Recently, I was listening to a program that offered a conversation between television personality Charlie Rose and his cardiologist. Charlie questioned the reasons for the outrageous expenses associated with health insurance and the general poor health of citizens in the United States. He asked about heredity and the influence of the food pyramid, exercise videos and sports personalities. The answer from his cardiologist was always that food and exercise habits are a choice. The doctor was convinced that good habits must be taught by age ten. I have heard many teachers who would agree. The answer for us is local farms. They provide great tasting products that are a treat to eat and can also offer an example of how food grows.
Many years ago, a few farmers started to communicate with the citizenship in our state to see if they might be able to fill some of the gaps in making the public aware of the importance of local agriculture. Most of these first efforts were product oriented and proved to be successful. Since those beginnings, additional gaps have been identified and are now being filled by state and local initiatives. These include education, open space preservation, food safety, nutrition, food security and local economics.
We at MAC are poised to do our part in the development of the new and sustainable state system. We appreciate the support of farmers, teachers, volunteers and all that help us to fulfill our mission. We realize that there are still many gaps that we can fill. We are looking to increase the support for our efforts and to provide the needed services for the citizens of our great state.
Marjorie A. Cooper and Ed Boureois, Co-Presidents
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom
MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007
Officers
Ed Bourgeois
Co-President
Marjorie Cooper
Co-President
Lenore Paul
Vice President
Marjorie Cooper
Secretary
Wayne Stuart
Treasurer
Consultants
Educational Consultant
Debi Hogan
Advisors
Acting Commissioner Scott Soares
Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources
Jay Slattery
Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation |
Board of Directors
- Jim Alicata, Fitchburg State College
- Diane Baedeker-Petit, USDA NRCS
- Adelia Bardwell, Massachusetts State Grange
- Carol Borglund, Member at Large
- Ed Bourgeois, Pioneer Valley Sheep Breeders Association
- Rita Brennan Olson, Massachusetts Department of Education
- Carrie Chickering Sears, UMass Community Development
- Christine Chisholm, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
- Janet Christensen, former staff, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
- Marjorie Cooper, Worcester County Farm Bureau
- John Conners, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
- Mary Gioiosa, USDA Food and Nutrition Program
- Sherry Guyott, Umass, 4-H Youth and Family Development
- Jay Healy, Former Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
- Henry Hicks, Massachusetts Council of Social Studies
- June Johnson, Member at Large
- John Kinchla, Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association
- Kimberly LaFleur, Massachusetts FFA
- John Lee, Massachusetts Association of Roadside Stands & Pick Your Own
- Mary McBrady, Massachusetts 4-H Foundation
- Mary McCaffrey, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association
- Kathleen C. Millett, Massachusetts Department of Education
- James Munger, Bristol County Farm Bureau
- Ken Oles, Assistant Principal, John F. Kennedy School, Canton
- Lenore Paul, Massachusetts Teacher, Veterans Park School, Ludlow
- Susan Phinney, Whole Foods Market
- Russell Powell, New England McIntosh Growers Association
- Dianna Provencher, Northeast Organic Farming Association
- Wayne Stuart, Treasurer
|
A special thank you to Joan Monaco and the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation for their bookkeeping support.
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom 2007 Donors
Partners in Progress: Donations of $1,000 or More
Essex County Farm Bureau
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources *
Massachusetts Flower Growers Association *
Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association *
Massachusetts State Lottery in Mass. Building at Eastern States *
Middlesex County Farm Bureau *
National Agriculture in the Classroom Grant
Tranquil Lake Nursery, Rehoboth *
Whole Foods Market, Cambridge
Worcester County Farm Bureau *
Partners in Progress: Donations of $500 to $999
Christensen-Dunn Early Childhood Foundation *
Eastern Mass. Trustee of Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield *
Hampshire County Farm Bureau
James Munger, South Dartmouth *
Norfolk County Farm Bureau *
Plymouth County Farm Bureau
Partners in Progress: Donations between $250-499
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Tewksbury
Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs Association *
Massachusetts Fruit Growers’ Association *
Massachusetts Maple Producers’ Association *
Massachusetts State Grange, P of H. *
Middlesex County Beekeepers Association *
Program Associates: Donations between $150-299
Lucy G. Carter, Woodleigh Farm, Weston *
Russ French, OESCO, Inc., Conway *
Debi Hogan and Warren Leach, Seekonk *
Sven and Rosamond Vaule, Brookline *
Partners in Progress: Donations between $100-149
John and Dorothy Angley, Flax Pond Cranberry Co., Carver *
Allen and Sarah Berry, Boylston
Lawrence H. Cournoyer, Cournoyer Vegetable Farm, Paxton *
Elaine Hannula, Oiva Hannula & Sons, Carver *
Ashley V. Holmes, Plymouth *
Judith Kimball, Haverhill *
Stephen and Susan Knowles, Lazy K Farm, Boxford
Mary McBrady, Plymouth *
Charles H. McColough, McColough Associates, Bedford *
Barbara W. Meyer, Medfield
New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association *
Susan Phinney, Watertown
Gary Saunders, Brookline *
Wayne and Priscilla Smith, Abington *
Frank White, Holly Hill Farm Cohasset
Frederic and Susan Winthrop, Turner Hill Farm, Ipswich *
Friends of MAC Donations up to $50 to $99
Abington Grange # 57 P. of H. *
Martina Albright, Chestnut Hill
Sarah L. Barnett, Newton Centre *
George Bass, Country Hen, Hubbardston
Bay State Pomona Grange, Norton
Ronald and Donna Carriveau, Holyoke *
Janet Christensen, Milton *
Franz and Anne Colloredo-Mansfeld
Connecticut Valley Pomona Grange
Warren and Marilyn Cook, Wrentham *
Steve Cumming, Bayer Crop, Lunenburg *
Carolyn Demoranville, Wareham
Marcia Dexter, Taunton *
Linwood Erskine, Jr., Paxton *
James Gilman, Huntington *
Lloyd Gingras, Mansfield *
Cheryl Hopson, Blandford
Robert and Barbara Johnson, Rutland *
Gordon and Barbara MacPhee, Holden
Cynthia and Orrin Mason, Jefferson *
Lydia and Barry Mathias, Kingston
Raymond McKay, Foxborough *
Jerry Myers, Springfield *
Norton Grange # 218
Francis H. Phillips, Kingston *
Julian Robinson, Oak Bluffs
Russell’s Orchard, Inc. Ipswich *
Dwight Sipler, Small Farm, Stow
Karen Sirois, Acton *
Lee Venolia, Ph.D., Williamstown
Frederick and Virginia Weston, South Carver
Charles Wilkinson, Swampscott *
Friends of MAC Donations up to $49
Angela Abbott, Brockton
Colleen Abrams, Holden *
Debra Alesbury, Acton
Charlotte Allen, Hingham
Hana Berman, Norwood
Francis E. Bingham, Dedham *
Alden Booth, Franklin County Brewing
Robert Borawski, Leeds
Braintree Grange # 262 *
Catherine Botsford Milne, Attleboro
Cecchi & Sons, Feeding Hills
Susanna Colloredo-Mansfield, South Hamilton
M. Connolly & M. Doherty, Hingham
Katherine Conway, Stockbridge School *
William Craigue, Leominster *
David Crocker, Crocker Nur., Brewster
David Dumaresq, Brox Farm, Dracut *
Caryl A. Dyer, Bernardston *
Luther C. Flanders, Jr., New Braintree *
Elizabeth Fydenkevez, Hadley
Geldmacher Cranberries, Inc., Duxbury *
Dawne Hamel, Braintree
George & D.D. Harrington, Framingham *
Anne B. Jencks, Seekonk *
Jean Crum Jones, Jones Family Farm, *
Jones Family Farm, Shelton, CT *
Levon Karageuzian, Watertown
William H. King, West Brookfield *
Laurel Hill Grange # 161, West Newbury *
Priscilla LeBlanc, Lowell
John and Cindy Lewis, Bridgewater
Judith MacLachlan, Onset
Pat Magee and Oakes Plimpton, Arlington
David and Marjorie Mann, Buzzards Bay
Mayflower North Pomona Grange # 40 *
James McGovern, U.S. Congress, Massachusetts
Mary McGrath, Plimpton
John and Kim Miczek, Leicester
Jennifer Mix, Bolton
Emily Turteltaub Nelson, Ipswich *
Oakbridge Grange # 212
Linda Pickreign, Westfield
Candice Rankin, Randolph
Rochester Grange # 257, Carver *
Susan Ryan, Randolph
Marjorie and Lawrence Shea, Westford
Lynn Sherwood, West Barnstable
Elisha Smith, Vineyard Haven
Shary Soule, Brockton
Philip St. Pierre, Brookline
Richard Starkey, Greenfield *
Stockbridge Grange # 295 *
Charles Tarleton, Winchendon
Ann Tierney, Belmont
Mary Ann Tourkantonis, Medway *
Robert Warren, Middleboro
Judith Wiezbicki, East Longmeadow *
Louise Woodward, North Brookfield *
Memorial Gifts
In Memory of Christine Worthen Eames given by Janet Christensen
In- Kind Donations
The Board of Directors wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations that made in-kind donations throughout the year.
Jim Alicata, Fitchburg State College *
Alice Armen, Montague
Allandale Farm, Brookline *
Aristocrat Products, Upton
Diane Baedeker Petit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service *
Pamela Barch, Ludlow High School *
Adelia Bardwell, Whately *
J. P. Bartlett Company, Sudbury *
Jon Belber, Holly Hill Farm, Cohasset
Bill Bradley, Northampton *
Bliss Brother’s Dairy, Attleboro *
Richard and Muriel Boisseau, Westfield *
Carol Borglund, Westborough *
Ed Bourgeois, Amherst *
Brigham Hill Comm. Farm, North Grafton *
Louise Butler, Belchertown *
Patricia Cabral, Department of Agricultural Resources *
David Campo, Milford High School
Lawrence Carlesi, Greater New Bedford Regional High School
Deborah Casagrande, Ludlow
Bill Cassell, L.D. Batchelder School
Carrie Chickering-Sears, UMass Extension *
Janet M. Christensen, Milton *
Warren, Marilyn, Nathan Cook, Wrentham
Marjorie and James Cooper, Rochdale *
Susan Cornelia, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation*
Nancy Cox, Veterans Park Elementary School, Ludlow
Ken Crater & Peg Ferraro, North Grafton *
Peter Davis, Henrietta’s Table, Cambridge
Carl DeMatteo, Dole and Bailey, Woburn
Tom Donovan, Attleboro
Edaville USA, Carver *
Kelly Erwin, Massachusetts Farm to School
Fitchburg State College
Garden Vision, Hubbardston *
Mary Gioiosa, USDA Food & Nutrition Program *
Laura Grabski, Boxford *
Deborah Habib, Orange *
Gordon Hammersley, Hammersley’s Bistro *
Ann Hanchett & Michael Kalagher, Plainfield
Lynn Hartman, Barre *
Brenda Helleberg, North Brookfield *
Ted Hirsch, South Shore Charter School
Debi Hogan & Warren Leach, Seekonk *
Donna Hogan, Principal, Baird Middle *
Honey Pot Orchard, Stow
Kim Houdlette, A.D. Makepeace, Wareham
Andy Husbands, Tremont 647 Restaurant
Julie and Peter Hyde, Weston
Donna Jewett, East Falmouth
June and Jim Johnson, Tewksbury *
John King, Townsend *
Judy and Don Leab, Hancock *
Rick LeBlanc, Department of Agricultural Resources *
Steve LeCount, Chiara Restaurant
John Lee, Allandale Farm, Brookline
Hans Leo, Bramble Hill Farm, Amherst *
Lori Lieberman, Coonamesset Farm
Jane Lucia, Williston Northampton Schools
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural. Resources *
Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation *
Mary McBrady, Plymouth *
Mary and William McCaffrey, East Taunton *
Sandra Medeiros, Stoughton *
Middlesex County Farm Bureau
Gilbert Moore, Slatersville, RI *
Andrew Morehouse, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
James Munger, South Dartmouth *
Obidiah MacIntyre Farm Winery, Charlton
Jonathan Nourse, Westborough
Mary and Tim Nourse, Whately *
Oakdale Farm, Rehoboth *
Ken & Bobbie Oles, Wrentham *
Lenore Paul, Ludlow *
Paul R. Baird Middle School, Ludlow *
Christopher Pires, Greater New Bedford Regional High School
Cathy Quinn, Thunder Hill 4-H
Linda Rohr, Kingston
Quansett Nursery, South Dartmouth *
Karen Randall, Randall’s Farm, Ludlow *
Tom Raposa, Attleboro *
Shawn Reeves, Energyteachers.org *
Andrew and Adelaide Reseka, Holliston
Joyce and Leon Ripley, Blandford *
Dan Rosenberg, Real Pickles, Montague
Russell’s Orchard, Ipswich *
Catherine Sands, Williamsburg
Adrienne Shelton, Buckland *
Jay Slattery, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation *
David, Carol & Jenn Smith, Winchendon
Lee Smith, Stillwater Farm, Holliston
Wayne Smith, Suburban Enterprises, Abington *
Ronald Smolowitz, East Falmouth
Scott Soares, Mass Department of Agricultural Resources *
Jim Soloman, Fireplace Rest., Brookline
Ana Sortun, Oleana Restaurant, Cambridge *
Mary Spaulding, Boston
Stoney Meadow Farm, South Dartmouth *
John Stowell, Dole and Bailey, Woburn
Deborah Swanson, Hanson
Sylvan Nurseries, Inc., Westport *
Thunder Hill 4-H, Westwood
Eric Toensmeir, Nuestras Raices, Holyoke
Tranquil Lake Nursery, Rehoboth *
USDA Food & Nutrition Service, Boston *
USDA Natural Resources Conservation *
Steve, Joan and Jennifer Verrill, Concord
Ryan Voiland, Red Fire Farm, Granby
Jim Ward, Ward’s Berry Farm, Sharon
Peter Westover, Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions
Whole Foods Market, Woburn
Wilson Farms, Inc. Lexington
Sharon Zschuschen, Shrewsbury
A Special thanks to the Sponsors of our 2007 Seasonal Workshops
Bliss Brothers Dairy, Attleboro
Crystal Brook Farm & Davis Farm, Sterling
Franklin County Technical HS, Turner’s Falls
Land’s Sake and Gateways Farm, Weston
Massachusetts FFA Conference, Sturbridge
Red Apple Farm, Phillipston
Red Fire Farm, Granby
Stockbridge Farm, Deerfield
Whittier Dairy Farm, Sutton
Program Overview
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom (MAC) operates under the guidance of a 30-member volunteer Board of Directors who represent Massachusetts’ agricultural commodities, associations, and state and Federal Agencies involved in agriculture education and awareness. Programs include:
Mini-Grant Program
The Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Mini-Grant program is now in it’s fourteenth year. The Mini-Grant Committee awarded $4,793 in 2007, to support ten worthy initiatives submitted by Massachusetts educators. Since 1994, MAC has awarded more than $170,000 to more than 200 projects planned and carried out by educators across the State of Massachusetts. Grants of up to $1,500 per project are awarded three times a year. Deadlines are April 1, September 1 and November 1. A MAC Board member serves as a liaison to support each project.
Workshops for Teachers on the Farm
In 2007, MAC conducted eight workshops for educators on farms across the state. Ten professional development points were offered for each of the workshops, reaching over 135 educators. Each session offered a farm tour and the opportunity to meet the farmer and learn about the work that goes on at that farm. Related hands-on activities conducted on the farm helped bring agriculture back to the classroom.
2007 topics included: Animals in the Classroom; Beekeeping & Pollination; Botany; Chickens; Cranberries; Farming with Youth; Food Safety; Herbs; Local Foods; Renewable Energy, and Water. Since 1996, MAC has offered more than 100 workshops on the farm for educators, bringing on-farm education experiences to more than 1,250 educators. 2007 workshops were hosted by A.D. Makepeace, Wareham; Cook’s Valley Farm, Wrentham; Hartman’s Herb Farm, Barre; Mass. Farm Bureau Federation, Ashland; Nuestras Raices, Holyoke; Seeds of Solidarity Farm, Orange; Verrill Farm, Concord, and Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon.
Graduate-Credit Course for Teachers
In 2007, Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom held our Second Graduate-credit course “Growing Agriculture in the Classroom” in conjunction with Fitchburg State College. Seventeen teachers participated in the program, attending eight educational workshops on farms across the state. Each participant also kept a journal and completed an agricultural project which they presented at the final workshop session on August 15th. This project was funded in part by a grant from the National Agriculture in the Classroom Program. To support this graduate course nine additional workshops were held on farms across the state. We thank our host farms: Brigham Hill Community Farm, North Grafton; Gateway Farm & Land’s Sake, Weston; John King’s Farm, Townsend; Manda Farm, Plainfield; Nourse Farm, Whately; Red Fire Farm, Granby; Smith Country Cheese, Winchendon; Spring Rain Farm, East Taunton and Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth. The Committee is planning a follow up Graduate-course for summer 2008.
Growing Minds Conference
In February 2007, Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom held our Sixth Annual Winter Conference titled “Growing Minds Through Massachusetts Agriculture” at The Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow. 93 educators attended. Each workshops was presented by a teacher or farm educator, and offered a number of hands-on activities for the classroom. During each of the four workshop sessions, participants chose one of four sessions on a variety of agricultural topics. John Lee from Allandale Farm offered an inspirational keynote talk about the making connections between agriculture and education. Randall’s Farm in Ludlow provided a farm-made feast. During the year, the Board of Directors planned the 2008 Conference, once again pairing classroom educators with farmers for hands-on workshop that link to the Mass. Curriculum Frameworks.
Educational Newsletters
The MAC newsletter is published two to three times a year. Each newsletter focuses on one aspect of the organization and also provides in-depth background materials and activities for one agricultural commodity or issue. Feature articles in our 2007 newsletters described our Summer Graduate Credit Course for educators, announced the Massachusetts Agricultural License Plate and honored our 2007 Teacher of the Year, Bill Cassell from the L.D. Batchelder School in North Reading. Additional articles described our mini-grant program, the Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar and the grants for schools connecting to Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions. Featured Massachusetts agricultural topics included: Healthy Lawns and Honeybees. We currently print 11,300 copies for distribution and also send the newsletter by e-mail.
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Web Site
Visit the MAC Web Site at www.aginclassroom.org to find an ever expanding site including information on workshops and conferences; educational information from past newsletters; mini-grant guide-lines and recipients; a regional AITC page, and many links.
Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar
MAC collaborated with the Masschusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to produce the 2008 Calendar of Massachusetts Agriculture. The calendar is a tool to educate teachers, legislators and the general public, while at the same time creating an attractive color calendar to offer a daily reminder of Massachusetts agriculture. A calendar was sent to every public library in the state as well as each legislator.
Other Education Materials
Massachusetts Agricultuire in the Classroom's Farm Field Trip Manual was developed to assist Massachusetts farmers who want to offer field trips on the farm for school groups. It included an outline on how to develop or expand the farm education program, pre-activities and post-field trip activities for the classroom, suggestions for carrying out the field trip and connections to the Mass. Curriculum Frameworks. It was funded by an Agro-Environmental Technology grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The School Community - Green Industry Handbook provides resources to facilitate cooperative gardening efforts between schools, local community groups and businesses. This handbook was reformatted and reprinted in 2004. This handbook was developed by Diane Syverson as part of a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources & Federal Specialty Crops Grant Program.
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom continues to distribute our “Eight Lesson About Agriculture and the Environment” (a resource with sample activities for elementary and middle school teachers with sample); “Reprints of Ten Past Newsletters”; an “It’s Your World” curriculum for grades K through 12 and our Teacher’s Resource Directory of free and low cost agricultural education materials Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom.
For additional information on any of the projects or proposed initiatives in the Annual Report
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