Ag-in-the-Classroom

Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau.  Its mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how we produce food and fiber, what we eat, and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems. 

NY Ag Literacy Week: March 16-20th, 2026

New York Ag-in-the-Classroom and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County invite you participate in the annual Agricultural Literacy Week to be held in 2026 from March 16th- 20th! Last year, 2300 books were donated to school or classroom libraries and books were read by volunteers to thousands of second graders throughout New York State.

The selected book for 2026 is "Seasons on the Farm" by Chelsea Tornetto and illustrated by Karen Bunting.

Throughout the year, life on a farm is filled with growth and joy, patience and renewal.  On a farm, each season arrives with new jobs to do—crops to plant, animals to tend to, and fields to harvest. Readers get an insider's look at what spring, summer, fall, and winter look like on a family farm, from adorable baby animals to rumbling tractors and pumpkins to pies. This sweet, rhyming story is perfect for young readers, whether their home is on a farm or not!

Interested in being a volunteer classroom reader?

Volunteers will visit local elementary schools during Ag Literacy Week to read and talk to children about New York's agriculture industry.  After the day's activities, the book will be donated to the school library for students and teachers to use throughout the school year.  2nd-grade teachers and volunteers who are interested in participating in NY Ag Literacy Week should call or email the contact for this page. Visit the New York State Ag in the Classroom website to learn more about statewide activities and to learn about agriculture-themed books that have been featured in other years.

Last updated February 12, 2026