The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture announced on April 20 that it will hold the “Agriculture Across All Curriculum Showcase” on May 12 at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, Arkansas. The event is designed for educators, administrators, and parents to explore how agriculture connects with various academic disciplines.
The showcase aims to highlight the broad role of agriculture in education and demonstrate its relevance beyond traditional agricultural programs. Ashlyn Ussery, extension agriculture and natural resources educator for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, will host the event from 4-6 p.m., offering tours of educational spaces including a classroom, kitchen, and greenhouse.
“I’ll be delivering a short presentation at 4:15 and again at 5:15,” Ussery said. “But other than that, this is primarily a chance for teachers and parents to tour our facility and see what the NERREC is.” She added, “I want folks to take a deeper look at our education program and see what kind of hands-on activities are available to them and their students, either as a field trip destination, or for me to come to their classroom as an educator to do a hands-on lesson about agriculture with them.”
Ussery said many educators mistakenly believe agricultural subjects belong only within ag programs. “Our main audience is teachers who aren’t in agriculture,” Ussery said. “We’re not excluding ag programs at all, but the science teacher, the math teacher, the career and technology teacher — those are the teachers we’re really wanting to reach out to.” She uses activities such as demonstrating how sandpaper removes rice hulls as examples of integrating physical science into agricultural lessons.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service receives funding through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state appropriations according to its official website. It supports social cohesion by offering programs addressing rural, urban, and suburban needs according to its official website. The service delivers programs using county offices as well as research centers across Arkansas according to its official website.
As part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture according to its official website, it operates in all 75 counties with specialists based on five university campuses according to its official website. Its mission focuses on enhancing agriculture, communities, and families through research-backed practices according to its official website.
Gift bags containing resource guides will be provided at no cost during this free event; registration is not required.
