IAITC coordinators in the driver’s seat for 2026 program

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By PHYLLIS COULTER

FarmWeek

Play was a key part of the day for about 100 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) coordinators from about 80 Farm Bureau county offices as they gathered in Bloomington on May 20 to get in the driver’s seat of the 2026-transportation-themed program.

In addition to participating in activities that children will do in classrooms, they gathered ideas and supplies for their Summer Ag Institute programs, where they will teach the teachers.

“There is a lot of energy in this group at the end of the school year, getting ready for next year,” Kevin Daugherty, director of Illinois Center for Agricultural Engagement for Illinois Farm Bureau, told FarmWeek.

Some of that energy was shown as participants loaded box after box into their cars, trucks and Jeeps off nine bulging pallets in the drizzling rain to deliver to teachers and use at Summer Institutes.

The coordinators inspired each other when the PEARS (pretty exciting ag-related stuff) award winners shared their ideas about birthday party themes, virtual book clubs and even farmer’s tan contests.

“You can’t hold a birthday party without a farmer,” said Jennifer Fink, who brought party fixings that included products of corn farmers (plastic), tree farmers (paper decor) and wheat farmers (birthday cake).

Kathleen Agney, a Shelby County IAITC coordinator for 10 years, has never seen so much excitement from teachers signing up for her Summer Ag Institute program.

“I think it’s partly the theme. Roads, Rivers and Rails has teachers excited,” she said. Often, about 10 teachers sign up, but it looks like she will have double that many this year. Several coordinators, including Agney, are planning trips to the river with area teachers to connect with the water transportation aspect of the theme.

As for the roads component, Julie Werland, Fulton coordinator, has already navigated students and teachers along Route 66 activities. Others will join in celebrating the 100th birthday of the Mother Road next year. She gives the students a map of interesting things to see along the highway, so they can go for a ride with their parents and experience adventures. That ride means – to actually look out the windows and not be playing on the electronics during the drive, she challenges students.

Coordinators also exchanged information about ag-related tourism sites and activities in their communities and examined travel passports and other creative items provided by Daugherty and the IAITC team.

Participants exchanged favorite books, often with interesting titles such as “Poo Pile on the Prairie.”

Mayonnaise united coordinators under the tutelage of John Heiser, program advisor for Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education.

In an exercise, also performed by some of the 41,000 ag students across the state, Heiser tasked 15 coordinators with naming ag careers involved in creating a jar of mayonnaise and getting it to the grocery. In all, 43 ag careers touch the process of mayonnaise on its way to the store. Of those, only two are actually farmers – poultry/egg producers and grain farmers. Others worked in transportation, equipment sales, design, sales and more.

In addition to the fun and games, coordinators polished their skills on fundraising, grant writing, social media efforts, pollinator projects and collaborating with 4-H teen teachers.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.