• 2027 Louisiana AITC Teacher of the Year Award

  • The Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Program recognizes a Louisiana teacher for achievements and efforts in teaching students the importance of agriculture.

    WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
    Certified teachers who integrate agricultural concepts into non-agricultural curricula and currently engaged in classroom instruction at the Pre-K through 12th grade levels are eligible to enter. Past winners are eligible to apply ten years following their award.

    WHAT WILL THE WINNER RECEIVE?
    The winner receives a trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, June 28 – July 1 in Oklahoma City, OK (valued at up to $1,500), a $500 cash award and an iPad.

    WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION?
    Teachers must use and show evidence of the use of agricultural information and/or materials within the classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Instruction may include, but is not limited to: understanding the importance and value of agriculture in students' daily lives; understanding the relationships among agriculture, food and fiber production, animals, health, energy systems, technology, economics, and the environment; identifying and understanding the connections between academic content areas and agricultural careers including, but not limited to, STEM careers; understanding the overall connectedness between STEM and agriculture. Innovative, integrated and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged. To earn this distinction, the selected applicant should include numerous, varied evidence of the teacher’s infusion of agricultural concepts throughout the curriculum and school year. Evidence of specific lessons and activities from the LA AITC website and the NAITC Matrix will enhance the application.

    EVALUATION CRITERIA* 
    A. Educator Narrative (25 points)
    The degree to which an educator exemplifies leading instruction on accurate agriculture knowledge, attitudes, and skills and demonstrates teaching excellence in gaining student understanding of selected agricultural literacy theme(s). Grants, community extensions, professional development relating to the narrative topic for other educators, and awards for teaching about narrative content will also be considered. (four-page limit)
    B. Infusion of Agricultural Concepts in the Entire Classroom (30 points)
    The degree to which evidence presented indicates a monthly timeline of lessons used with the students. The submitted lesson plan should be one of many that are used to expose students to agricultural concepts. Indication of use of specific lessons and activities from the LA AITC website and the NAITC Matrix will earn more points in the judging process. (two-page limit)
    C. Featured Lesson Plan (15 points)
    The degree to which accurate agricultural concepts have been integrated into a standards-based education plan, which includes a critical thinking element and demonstrates for the learner a deeper understanding of the relationships between agricultural systems, individuals, and the world. (six-page limit)
    D. Education Practices (10 points)
    The degree to which the educator utilizes formal education practices for integrated, standards-based lesson plan with demonstrated understanding of accurate agricultural literacy.  This criteria will be evaluated from the educator narrative (A), monthly timeline (B) and lesson plan (C).

    E. Documentation and Photos (15 points)
    The degree to which photos and other documentation exhibit excellence in agricultural literacy methods used by the applicant, to include but not limited to: news articles, bulletin board examples relating to agricultural literacy, community outreach, school newsletters, grant award letters, etc. (four-page limit)
    F. Formatting of Application (5 points)
    The degree to which the applicant has completed the application in accordance to the instructions. Identifying information such as name, school and parish should not be included in the Narrative, Monthly Timeline, Lesson Plan or Documentation and Photos. 

    Bonus: Attendance at a Louisiana AITC Workshop (Bonus Value: 5 points)
    Five points can be earned if applicant attended a state workshop sponsored by the LA AITC Committee.

    *A panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education and AITC will evaluate all nominations. Your name and parish will be removed from the application for judging.

    Winner will be announced by April 1, 2027.

  • Application Form

    Deadline for submission is January 31, 2027
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Have you attended a LA AITC state workshop or completed the AITC Google Classroom course?*

  • Education

  • Rows

  • Professional Experience

  • Rows

  • Teaching Awards & Honors

  • Educator Narrative

    Do NOT use any identifying information (name, parish, school) in the narrative.

  • Do not use any identifying information (name, parish, school) in the narrative.

    Describe methods of integrating and instructing one or more of the following National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) in the teacher’s classroom throughout the school year and curricular areas.  How is the theme (or themes) used to increase agricultural literacy?

    For additional information on the national agricultural literacy themes visit: https://cdn.agclassroom.org/nat/data/get/NALObooklet.pdf.

  • Which theme(s) is/are addressed (select all that apply):*
  • 0/1000

  • Monthly Timeline

    Infusion of Agricultural Concepts in the Entire Classroom and School Year

  • Indicates a monthly timeline of lessons used to expose students to agricultural concepts. Give evidence of the use of specific activities found on the LA AITC website or the NAITC Matrix. The submitted lesson plan (item C) should be one of many that are used to expose students to agricultural concepts. 

  • 0/500

  • Featured Lesson Plan

  • Submit one lesson plan, which illustrates the agricultural literacy teaching method as described in the narrative. Be sure to give credit to the appropriate sources, if applicable. Evaluation criteria includes use of standards-based, formal education practices for teaching agricultural literacy, which are integrated into multiple academic content areas rather than a single subject area. Evaluation also includes critical thinking aspects, ones which encourage problem-solving by learners for a deeper understanding of agricultural issues. 

    Do NOT use any identifying information (name, parish, school) in the lesson plan.

    Please include the following content according to the order below in the lesson plan: 

    1. Title of the lesson
    2. Brief purpose of the lesson
    3. Grade level(s) addressed
    4. Time length of lesson
    5. Objective of the lesson
    6. Standards addressed (limit the standards list to no more than one-half page)
    7. National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) addressed  https://cdn.agclassroom.org/nat/data/get/NALObooklet.pdf
    8. Materials list
    9. Vocabulary or key words
    10. Instructor procedures
    11. Additional resource(s) which enhance the lesson, no external links. Screenshots or worksheet images may be used to illustrate student components
    12. Resources used from the LA AITC website or the NAITC Matrix
    13. Assessment (list of five essential questions that students should understand and be able to answer after having been taught the lesson)

     

  • 0/500
  • 0/500

  • Documentation & Photos

    Compile photos and other documentation of instruction on agricultural literacy

  • Please use quality images and add a brief caption at the bottom of each photo to describe the activity. No external links may be used. Do NOT use any identifying information (name, parish, school) in documentation and photos. 

  • Upload photos & provide description*

  • I certify that the information submitted with the application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Applicant’s signature further expressly grants permission to the Louisiana Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation to use these submitted materials at future Ag in the Classroom functions or appropriate public forums, to publicize in whatever manner including, but not limited to, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Ag in the Classroom website.

  • Should be Empty: