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Hank the Cowdog stars as the voice in this Learn Ranching Resource 

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Hank the Cowdog stars as the voice in this Learn Ranching Resource 

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Ranch Life Learning - Ranching Heritage Association

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The Payne Foundation of Pampa, Texas, awarded the Ranching Heritage Association a grant of $50,000 to conceptualize and plan this new venue. They wanted us to dream big. We are now seeking funds to make building modifications, construct additional structures and equip the site with appropriate ranch equipment and features. Our quest for these funds includes solicitations to foundations, businesses, industries and individuals. Abundant naming opportunities will be available. We expect the Ranch Life Learning Center to enrich the visitor experience so dramatically at the NRHC that annual attendance figures may increase by 400%. This will, in turn, bring its own set of challenges, but the challenges of success are always easy to meet. Watch with bated breath while we move into this exciting new phase of life at the National Ranching Heritage Center.
To learn more about the Ranch Life Learning Center, contact Julie Hodges at 806-742-0498.

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Ranch Life Learning - Ranching Heritage Association

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The Payne Foundation of Pampa, Texas, awarded the Ranching Heritage Association a grant of $50,000 to conceptualize and plan this new venue. They wanted us to dream big. We are now seeking funds to make building modifications, construct additional structures and equip the site with appropriate ranch equipment and features.

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How cows can help dissolve the plastic waste problem - Darigold

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Rumen Enzymes May Help With Plastic Waste Problem

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Rumen Enzymes May Help With Plastic Waste Problem

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Discovery by scientists shows potential to help dissolve the worldwide the plastic waste problem, thanks to naturally occurring enzymes found in a cow rumen.

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The researchers from University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, the Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology and the University of Innsbruck wrote in a study published on Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology that the microbial community in alpine cows' rumens provide a "biological toolbox for the degradation of synthetic polyesters."

They examined the enzyme's effects on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which is most often found in textiles and packaging, including single use plastic bottles, and two biopolyesters.

Professor Georg Güebitz, Head of the Department of Agrobiotechnology at BOKU told The Daily Churn that specific enzymes produce degradation quickly, without affecting other materials.

"That means that we can degrade the exact component we want to break down and leave the rest for recycling or reuse," he says. "An example would be a plastic bottle with a paper label. We could break down the bottle without wrecking the paper, which could then be recycled for reuse."

Finding innovative ways to break down plastic waste could help solve the challenge of managing the over 300 million tons of plastic produced each year .

The idea that cows can add to the solution is quite exciting to Professor Güebitz, who compares rumen to fungi.

"Think how long it takes for a tomato to mold or a tree to decompose," he says. "Cows, on the other hand, can eat paper and by the next day, they have digested it. The rumen in their stomachs are quite fast in degrading polymers."
Our plastic problem
The production of virgin plastics has quadrupled in the past 40 years, write researchers Jiajia Zheng and Sangwon Suh . "If this trend were to continue, the GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from plastics would reach 15 percent of the global carbon budget by 2050.

This and other factors prompted researchers like Güebitz and colleagues to accelerate potential solutions.

A large group of scientists whose research was published in the journal Science modeled stocks and flows of municipal solid waste and microplastics through the global plastic system between 2016 and 2040. They found that "i mplementing all feasible interventions reduced plastic pollution by 40% from 2016 rates and 78% relative to "business as usual" in 2040."

Even with immediate and concerted action, their modeling showed that 710 million metric tons of plastic waste would still enter aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They recommend urgent "coordinated global action" to reduce consumption, increase reuse, recycling and waste collection - and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.

That is a huge challenge for governments around the world, especially given the International Energy Agency 's recent flagship report Net Zero by 2050 concludes that "The path to net-zero emissions is narrow."

Crucially, according to the report, half of CO2 emissions reductions by 2050 will need to come from technologies that are currently in the demonstration phase.

"Major innovation efforts must take place this decade," the researchers urge, "in order to bring these new technologies to market in time."
Rumen power
Which is why these recent findings about rumen could be so significant.

Not only is a rumen-based recycling process likely to be faster than other biologic systems currently in use, according to Güebitz, but what is produced by the new method of plastic degradation can be reused.

"Once the plastics are broken down by the enzymes," he says, "we have the building blocks of the material and can reuse those blocks to create new polymers."

So, not only could plastic from bottles be reused after this process, but the process produces very little waste.

Plus, adds Güebitz, the specificity of rumen enzymes makes it possible to work with large amounts of mixed waste in a way that reduces the time and cost of sorting processes. In other words, one could spray the enzymes on mountains of rubbish, or the trash could be buried in a liquid version of the recycling catalysts, and only the desired plastics would break down.

The enzymes from rumen are so powerful in fact, they are capable of breaking down disposable items made from compound materials, which are notoriously difficult to recycle. So what does this mean for farmers?
How farmers can help
Professor Güebitz suggests that producers with small herds of cows may be able to harvest enzymes from the abattoir. What is now a waste product could instead become something that is both practically and financially valuable.

Larger meat-producing farms may be able to build an additional business component around the use of rumen enzymes, he continues. Even more ambitiously, collected food packaging could be broken down by an on-site enzymatic biodigester before it is recycled into new packaging.

And should the global mountain of plastic waste ever run out, Professor Güebitz says it would be possible to produce large quantities in a laboratory.

So, what would it take to make this powerful tool widely available?
Industrial scale plastic dissolution
"Our next steps are to scale up this process and see how it works on an industrial level," says Güebitz.

Further development of the use of the rumen enzymes could focus on less common, and frequently larger, items of plastic waste such as car seats, he adds, noting that specialized waste management companies will have to take on tasks like that.

But there is still work to be done.

As the scientists note in their journal article , different species of fungi have already been exploited at an industrial level. But enzymes from rumen "are generally under-explored for biotechnological applications" and "could have interesting properties for industrial applications."

This combined with up-cycling food waste and helping to mitigate and sequester greenhouse gases demonstrate just a few environmental services cows can perform.

:: Graphic of rumen recycling via Frontiers of Bioengineering and Technology; image of colorful test tubes by Girl with red hat on / all other images by The Daily Churn

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How cows can help dissolve the plastic waste problem - Darigold

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The researchers from University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, the Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology and the University of Innsbruck wrote in a study published on Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology that the microbial community in alpine cows' rumens provide a "biological toolbox for the degradation of synthetic polyesters."

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Animals and Humans have been working other for thousands of years.

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Animals and Humans have been working other for thousands of years.

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This graphic shows a timeline of when 15 different animals became domesticated, based on archaeological findings.

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Everything but the Moo and Beef Coloring Sheet

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Everything but the Moo and Beef Coloring Sheet

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Educator Resources | Farm Credit of the Virginias

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Access a range of helpful classroom materials carefully prepared by Farm Credit of the Virginias' own Knowledge Center staff.

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California Ag in the Classroom Foundation

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California Ag in the Classroom Foundation

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Ask about the Cowabunga Resources for Educators!

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

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Judy Culbertson, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

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Agriculture in the Classroom website provides a network and resources for educators that seek to engage K-12 audiences and improve agricultural literacy.

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Understanding Rumination - a presentation from California Rangeland Trust

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Understanding Rumination - a presentation from California Rangeland Trust

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California Ag in The Classroom Foundation shares top products grown in California Counties.  Check out this county by county list where food grows near you.  Can you find the cattle?  #LearnAboutAg@Home!

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Resources for educators in addition to resources for retailers and consumers.

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Education

Resources for the Classroom

The California Beef Council has a variety of resources available for classroom use geared to K-12. Resources include nutrition information, food preparation and cooking information, science lessons, and more. Email Annette Kassis at annette@calbeef.org to request classroom materials.

All materials are provided to teachers free of charge, courtesy of the Beef Checkoff.

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Education The California Beef Council has a variety of resources available for classroom use geared to K-12. Resources include nutrition information, food preparation and cooking information, science lessons, and more. Email Annette Kassis at annette@calbeef.org to request classroom materials. All materials are provided to teachers free of charge, courtesy of the Beef Checkoff.

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Beef - It's What's For Dinner - 360 Videos

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Take a virtual reality tour of farms and ranches across the United States to see how beef is raised from pasture to plate in our 360 videos.

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Harris Ranch - Diversified Agriculture Operations

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Harris Ranch - Diversified Agriculture Operations

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A presentation by CDFA

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California Department of Food and Agriculture

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Growing California video series: Here's the Beef

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Historical Perspective of Beef Production

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Historical Perspective of Beef Production

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1950s Beef Cattle Production - Herds West (1955) - CharlieDeanArchives / Archival Footage

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BR Cutrer, Inc - Zoom volunteer Guest Lecturing

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BR Cutrer, Inc - Zoom volunteer Guest Lecturing

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This team has spoken extensively at national conferences and universities from ranch management to genetics and technology.

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Here at B.R. Cutrer, Inc., the Cutrer family is very blessed to have over a century-old tradition of breeding Brahman cattle. We've been able to learn from of the greatest individuals in the breed.

Since going out on our own, we understand first hand that questions come up, and thus we have made education a top priority of B.R. Cutrer, Inc.. We can usually answer most questions whether it ranges from beef cattle production to technology, but we realize not everyone has that luxury. We are committed to helping others learn about Brahman cattle. We offer several educational opportunities for our customers and those interested in Brahman cattle.

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Learn - B.R. Cutrer, Inc. - Let us be Your Brahman Guides

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Here at B.R. Cutrer, Inc., the Cutrer family is very blessed to have over a century-old tradition of breeding Brahman cattle. We've been able to learn from of the greatest individuals in the breed. Since going out on our own, we understand first hand that questions come up, and thus we have made education a top priority of B.R.

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Eddie Ranch - a virtual tour of a real ranch with a mission to preserve rangeland Brought to you by California Rangeland Trust

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Eddie Ranch - a virtual tour of a real ranch with a mission to preserve rangeland Brought to you by California Rangeland Trust

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Check out this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mVHUt5Yr0AY

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Feeding People without Wasting the Planet

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Feeding People without Wasting the Planet

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Dr. Frank Mitloehner, PhD presents a greater understanding of the numbers, the science and the misconceptions of livestock’s impact on the planet.

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Feeding the People without Wasting the Planet, Dr. Frank Mithloehner from UC-Davis

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Is what you think you know about meat and the environment true?

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Six Reasons Why Meat is 'Greener' Than You Think

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Six Reasons Why Meat is 'Greener' Than You Think 1. Livestock production is not a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Ag in the Classroom - lesson plans for multiple grade levels

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Ag in the Classroom - lesson plans for multiple grade levels

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Under the Keyword Search, enter Beef for a list of resources

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The National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix provides K-12 educators with relevant standards-based instructional resources. The lesson plans and companion resources use agriculture as a context for science, social studies, and nutrition education content. Search the Matrix by keyword or use the Advanced Search console. Looking for agricultural terms? Download a spreadsheet of the Matrix vocabulary. Let us know if you have an idea you'd like to share for a new lesson plan or companion resource.

Want to keep track of your favorite resources? It's simple, create a personal binder - MyBinder! You will also receive monthly updates about what's new in the Matrix.

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Debra Spielmaker, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

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Curriculum Matrix | National Agriculture in the Classroom

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The National Agriculture in the Classroom website provides K-12 educators with engaging resources to increase agricultural literacy among their students.

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Not all protein is created equal

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Nutrition and Health

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California Ag in the Classroom has a wide variety of topics and lessons around beef’s part in the Ag story, check it out here:

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California is one of the nation's greatest beef-producing states, and beef is one of the state's most valuable agricultural commodities. Cattle have played a critical role in our state's history, and they continue to be a part of the California landscape and culture. Explore the resources on this page to learn all the ways California beef contributes to our daily lives.

Beefing Up Math

The "Beefing Up Math" Project was sponsored by the California Beef Council and includes five new math worksheets for students in grades 1 to 6. Students will solve math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals. Once students complete the math facts, they color the beef mural according to the key. The back side of the worksheet includes word problems related to cattle ranching, and measurement problems that require the "Beef Up Your Math" ruler. All worksheets are aligned to current California Education Standards.

Bon á La Beef!

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom partnered with California Beef Council to create four video clips featuring elementary through high school students preparing recipes to educate students, teachers, and the public about beef, its nutritional value, and its proper handling and preparation. The student-developed recipes use easy techniques and readily available ingredients. Each of the four cooking video clips are paired with educational lesson plans that are aligned to Common Core State Standards for students in grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Steer Towards STEM: Careers in Animal Agriculture

This five-lesson unit for grades 3-5 promotes the development of STEM abilities and critical thinking skills, while fostering an appreciation for the people involved in livestock production. The curriculum includes real-life challenges for students to investigate, inquiry-based labs, and opportunities to plan and construct models. Featured careers include animal physiologist, agricultural engineer, range manager, animal nutritionist, and animal geneticist.

Farm to You: Beef Cattle

Starting with the sun, there is quite a journey to bring our food from Farm to You. The Farm to You: Beef Cattle resource includes a colorful illustration, photos, and hands-on lesson plans and activities to help students understand the people and processes involved.

Beef Fact and Activity Sheet

This California-specific beef fact sheet includes information about production, breeds, top-producing counties, history and nutritional value. The second page provides lesson and activity ideas.

Download:

Ag-Bites

Ag-Bites are a set of fun, bite-sized activity sheets for bringing hands-on agricultural education into your classroom. Three of the 14 sheets feature beef topics.

Download:

Website:

California Grows... Map

The California Grows map shows the top three commodities in all of California's counties. Explore the top beef-producing counties.

What's Growin' On? - Cattle Connections

Our 16-page newspaper provides great information about California agriculture, along with activities geared for students in third through eighth grade. Visit the Cattle Connections page to learn more about beef, or explore the entire What's Growin' On? library.

Download:

Wow That Cow! Fact Sheet

The California Beef Council explains all the ways cattle contribute to our lives... and the plant.

Fun Farm Facts

The California Beef Council also created this Fun Farm Facts Sheet, great for all ages!

Ag Mag: Beef

Learn more about beef with this four-page beef feature in Ag Mag, a publication produced by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.
View Online "

Beef 101

Learn how beef gets from the farm to your dinner table with this 12-page publications created by the California Beef Counciel and The Beef Checkoff program.
View Online "

iPad App: Wow That Cow!

Explore the interactive iPad app to learn about beef cuts, nutrition, byproducts and land stewardship through puzzles, challenges and stories. This interactive app is brought to you by the Tulare County Cattle Women and sponsored by the Tulare County Cattlemen and the Tulare County Cattle Women.
Download the Wow That Cow! app on your iPad "
This page was brought to you through a partnership between the California Beef Council and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

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Judy Culbertson, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

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California is one of the nation's greatest beef-producing states, and beef is one of the state's most valuable agricultural commodities. Cattle have played a critical role in our state's history, and they continue to be a part of the California landscape and culture.

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Where are the cuts of beef?  Certified Angus Beef provides this information from primal cuts to the products we recognize in the store

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Certified Angus Beef ® brand | Basics of Beef Cuts

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The Certified Angus Beef ® brand is the best Angus brand available. It's a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select. Ten quality standards - including abundant marbling, ensure every bite is exceptionally flavorful, incredibly tender and naturally juicy.

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4-H has experience in putting together kid and parent friendly resources for learning about Beef.  From showing to beef animal anatomy, all around resources can be found here.

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The Beef curriculum engages youth in activities to identify breeds, locate parts, raise a healthy animal, fit and show steers, and select and judge beef.

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Developed by Tulare County Cattlewomen, this collection of games and activities helps young learners with cattle facts and information.

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San Joaquin Ag Ventures - two event days feature lessons about Beef!  

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San Joaquin Ag Ventures - two event days feature lessons about Beef!  

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Lodi and Stockton Ag Venture Days recorded for 2021 include lessons on Beef!  Thank you San Joaquin County Cattlewomen and Mid-Valley Cowbelles for reaching students!

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** All AgVenture events for the 20/21 school year will be held virtually. Each event is two parts: presentations (pre-recorded) and displays (live). Presentations should be watched prior to the event. The displays will be held on designated AgVenture days, similar to previous years. AgVenture dates are below as is the listing of school districts that will "attend" each one. **

Prior to arriving at AgVenture, please watch the following:

(We ask you watch two, but our guess is you'll want to watch them all)

Manteca AgVenture
April 2021

This Manteca AgVenture trip was for Banta, Escalon, Lammersville Ripon, Manteca, New Jerusaleum, Jefferson and Tracy Unified third graders. It featured the following displays including: sheep and goats, SJC Mosquito and Vector Control, sheep dogs, Stockton East Water Suppliers, Panella Trucking, and SJC Master gardeners discussed bees and other pollinators.

This is a fillable PDF for students to follow along during the virtual field trip

Lodi AgVenture Sponsored by
March 2021

Michael David Family Foundation

This Lodi AgVenture trip was for Linden, Lodi, New Hope and Oak View Unified third graders. It featured the following displays including: PG&E Gas Board, Kraft Heinz, San Joaquin Cattlewomen, California Farmland Trust, SJC Master Gardeners and N&S Tractor.

This is a fillable PDF for students to follow along during the virtual field trip

February 2021

​

This tour will take you onsite and live to a San Joaquin County almond orchard to explore what happens during almond blossom. Learn more about the important roll bees play during almond blossom.

This is a fillable PDF for students to follow along during the virtual field trip

Stockton AgVenture

January 2021

This Stockton AgVenture trip was for Stockton and Lincoln Unified third graders. It featured the following displays including: SJC Horsemens Assoc., SJC Weights and Measures, California Farmland Trust, Mid Valley Cowbelles, SJC Mosquito and Vector Control, PG&E Electric Board, and Orchard Rite Shakers.

This is a fillable PDF for students to follow along during the virtual field trip

November 2020

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This tour will take you onsite to a San Joaquin County walnut orchard. Learn more about what it takes to grow, harvest and process walnuts for consumption.

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View this Virtual Farm Trip

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All AgVenture events for the 20/21 school year will be held virtually. Each event is two parts: presentations (pre-recorded) and displays (live). Presentations should be watched prior to the event. The displays will be held on designated AgVenture days, similar to previous years.

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American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

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American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

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Lesson plans, resources and tools that cover a variety of agriculture topics.  Enter beef in the search bar for beef targeted lesson ideas and tools.

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AFBFA - American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

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Working at the intersections where agriculture and society cross paths, we improve ag literacy by demonstrating the often hidden - yet absolutely essential - role agriculture plays in Americans' everyday lives.

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Great books and great options for reaching students to learn about several aspects of farming and ranching.  Turning your passion into a message is what drives this educator to continue to build resources and an ongoing educational series of resources, including ranching and cattle care.

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Sanford Short Performance Assessments - 

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Sanford Short Performance Assessments - 

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Includes units on healthy rangelands being a key part of environmental biodiversity.

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Short Performance Assessments | Stanford NGSS Assessment Project

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Short Performance Assessments (SPAs) are designed to be taken individually at the end of a lesson sequence that addresses the NGSS Performance Expectation (PE). The SPAs provide information about students' progress with integrating the three dimensions of a single PE.

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No Mess, no cage, no pen but all of the great team spirit of a mascot!

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Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your classroom mascot? Don't worry about finding a pen big enough to hold her. The photos and stories we'll send you about her life on the farm will make her "come alive" for your students!

Important Adopt A Cow Program Details:

This program is completely FREE! No costs from beginning to end.

No approval process! Once you complete and submit the enrollment form below, your classroom will be registered to adopt a cow for the current school year.

Registration for each academic year is from August 1 to October 15.

No information will be sent out until the calves are born and registration is closed (by November).

Timeline of Events:

1. November: Introductory video (sent via email) and kit with details about the host farm and calf (sent via snail mail) are sent.

2. January: Update #2 is emailed.

3. March: Update #3 is emailed.

4. April/May: An opportunity to live chat your calf and host farm via YouTube.

You are eligible to sign up if...

You teach in a traditional classroom setting.

You are homeschooling your kids/family members/friends.

You run an after school program.

You facilitate a library program.

You have an agriculture program at your museum or kid's center.

You are one of the above and are teaching/leading from in or outside of the United States (yes, anyone can join the program, even from New Zealand!)

What kind of information can I expect?

Throughout the program, you'll find out what her name is, when her birthday is, where she lives and how the farmer takes care of her. We'll also send photos of the cow, activity sheets for the students, a PowerPoint full of information and photos and a suggested lesson that follows Common CORE standards.

We encourage classes to fully engage in this program and even write letters to their calf and host farm family, not only to practice their writing skills but also to show their love for their calf. In the end, we keep you posted on her progress while you and your students enjoy the cuteness of your adorable calf. The Adopt A Cow Program is just one of many ways to Discover Dairy in your classroom!
See sample introductory packet.

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Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your classroom mascot? Don't worry about finding a pen big enough to hold her. The photos and stories we'll send you about her life on the farm will make her "come alive" for your students!

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National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day - September 13

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National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day - September 13

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Encouraging healthy eating through learning to cook is one of the inspirational ways to get healthy habits for a lifetime.  Check out the National Day Calendar for other ideas to add beef to your reasons to celebrate

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National Day Calendar - There's more than one day for everyone to celebrate.

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Create a cowboy themed virtual class photo on Pixton Edu. 

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Create a cowboy themed virtual class photo on Pixton Edu. 

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Check out this video on YouTube for Pixton Edu: https://youtu.be/ap9s7Wwa4tg

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How to Make a Virtual Class Photo With Pixton EDU

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They are currently focused on development of Virtual Programming so watch for expanding resources!

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Connecting educators and students to food, fiber, and natural resources

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AgVentures - An interactive agriculture learning center in Central California 

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AgVentures - An interactive agriculture learning center in Central California 

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Interactive virtual opportunities to tour exhibits and learn about agriculture!

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What is AgVentures!®?

Come learn about Agriculture inside AgVentures!® By exploring the modern, interactive, hands-on exhibits you will learn about what it takes to produce the food and fiber we rely on and discover the role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.

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Come learn about Agriculture inside AgVentures!® By exploring the modern, interactive, hands-on exhibits you will learn about what it takes to produce the food and fiber we rely on and discover the role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.

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What does it take to create your own brand?  California Foundation for  Ag in the Classroom  has a fun creative activity where you can learn to build your own!

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A curriculum for learning by Five Marys Farms.

Learn age-old skills, modern day lessons, animal husbandry, ranch life, outdoor living, vocational skills, art & travel…. and so much more through our interactive lessons and engaging activities.

Connect with other families eager to broaden horizons and learn new things about agriculture, practical skills and the outdoors. All levels, including lifelong learners are WELCOME.

Join the M5 Ranch School to connect and explore new learning opportunities with us!

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About M5 Ranch School

A curriculum for learning by Five Marys Farms.

Learn age-old skills, modern day lessons, animal husbandry, ranch life, outdoor living, vocational skills, art & travel .... and so much more through our interactive lessons and engaging activities.

Connect with other families eager to broaden horizons and learn new things about agriculture, practical skills and the outdoors. All levels, including lifelong learners are WELCOME.

Join the M5 Ranch School to connect and explore new learning opportunities with us!

M5 Ranch School workshops

2021 Workshops :

One workshop released every week!

* Handiwork

* All About Sheep & Lambs

* Cheesemaking

* All About Rabbits & Rodents

* Tractors & Farm Implements

* Weather & The Farmer's Almanac

* Bread Making

* Hunting, Butchery & Curing Meats

* Animal Veterinary Science

* Birds & Bird Watching

* Natural Dyes, Shibori & Egg Dying

* All About Goats, Llamas, Alpacas & Fiber Animals

* Ground Water, Wells, & Windmills

* All About Snakes & Insects

* Simple Circuits & Electricity

* Sign Language & Braille, ASL

* Flowers & Arranging

* All About Fish, Fishing, & Hatcheries

* Gardening & Growing

* Beekeeping & Meet an Apiarist

* And MORE!

What's Included?

Included in EACH workshop...
* Engaging Video Lessons * Workshop Text Lessons * A-Z Learning Pages * Activity Worksheets for all ages * Future Entrepreneur Exercises * Challenge Activities * Children's Video Book Read-Alouds * How-To's, Recipes or Tutorials * A List of Related Books & Reading * Links to Additional Resources
Additional Content...

* Mini Workshops

* Seasonal Content & Activities

* Behind the Scenes Videos
* Weekly Campfire Chat Activities * Interactive Community Platform

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Experience Ranch School for yourself!

An unlimited lifetime membership to Ranch School is available for $24.99/month for 12 months or a one time payment of $249.99.

Join anytime and create your own account at www.ranch.school.

Questions or want to GIFT a membership? email ranchschool@fivemarys.com

Who Can Join?

Come one, come all!
All ages are welcome.
From Early Learners, Pre-K, Kinder, Elementary, Junior High and High School students to Lifelong Learners...
Anyone eager to expand their horizons and learn new skills while being a part of our community.
Our content is geared to span all ages and will be enriching and enjoyable from toddlers to retired folks!

GIFT A RANCH SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP!

For the children, grandchildren, teenagers, teachers, or lifelong learners in your life!

email ranchschool@fivemarys.com to gift a membership

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Learn age-old skills, modern day lessons, animal husbandry, ranch life, outdoor living, vocational skills, art & travel .... and so much more through our interactive lessons and engaging activities. Connect with other families eager to broaden horizons and learn new things about agriculture, practical skills and the outdoors.

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Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento Cattlewomen’s unit worked with UCC Cooperative Extension to take part in the virtual 2020 Annual Farm Day. Check out all of the great facts and information about cattle ranching and cattle products here:

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Beef and Dairy by-products are also a part of your life

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Beef and Dairy by-products are also a part of your life

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National Ag Day - New Resource from California Ag in the Classroom Foundation

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National Ag Day - New Resource from California Ag in the Classroom Foundation

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Learn about Ag from Home Resource

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Mobile Dairy Classroom Field Trips - Sponsored by the Dairy Council of California 

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Mobile Dairy Classroom Field Trips - Sponsored by the Dairy Council of California 

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They may not be beef cows, but our dairy friends are pretty amazing!  Learn about our bovine cousins - who make milk.  These virtual learning experiences are tailored to multiple grade levels, these interactive 45 minute tours help students learn about dairy farming and milk products.

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Free Farm to You Virtual Field Trips

Take your students on a California dairy farm tour by signing up for a virtual field trip today!

Virtual Field Trips are daily Monday - Friday 9 a.m. (PST), 11 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST)providing flexibility for classes to participate throughout the day and week.

Please let us know how many attendees will be participating or sharing your confirmation email as participation is limited to 10 00 attendees per session.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email and you can forward the "click this URL to join" (the link is shareable even though zoom says that it is not) or you can have your students individually register by sharing the URL of the registration page. Teachers can share their screen with the students as long as it isn't through Zoom. Teachers can also share their screen using other platforms like Google Classroom, Schoology, etc.

We suggest you log into the virtual field trip 5 minutes early to make sure everything is working and you don't miss any information.

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Presentation levels: Choose the day and time that best fits your grade level. Both lessons deliver the same content, delivery adjusted for primary and intermediate grades.

PK - 2nd Grade:
Monday: 9 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST), Tuesday: 9 a.m. (PST), Wednesday: 11 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST), Thursday: 9 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST), Friday: 11 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST)

3rd Grade - Above:
Monday: 11 a.m. (PST), Tuesday: 11 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m. (PST), Wednesday: 9 a.m. (PST), Thursday: 11 a.m. (PST), Friday: 9 a.m. (PST)

High School: We just elevated our elementary presentation for our High School audience. If interested in a field trip for your class please email us at [email protected]

Choose a day of the week and the session time from the corresponding drop down list to sign up for a live virtual field trip. Please note: You may need to disable your pop-up blocker and refresh this page if you don't notice the registration page load in a new tab of your browser.

Select Day of the Week:

Dairy Council of California's Mobile Dairy Classroom is the original "farm to school" program in California, bringing the farm experience to students to teach agricultural literacy since the 1930s.

The virtual tours are guided by a Mobile Dairy Classroom instructor and are 45-minutes, teaching students about farm life while covering a variety of lessons. Each tour provides an introduction to dairy cows to teach students the anatomy of a cow, the journey of milk, milk production and more. Each lesson also takes students on a virtual tour of a working California dairy farm where students have an opportunity to engage with a dairy farmer. As they explore the farm, student will see how dairy cows are fed and milked, learn how farmers care for their herds, and discover the numerous sustainability measures farms utilize in addition to traditional upcycling practices. Each farm tour concludes with an interactive Q&A session, which provides students with the opportunity to ask questions.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many students and school communities to continue distance learning, our virtual field trips are an amazing opportunity for students to experience an unforgettable farm tour field trip. And best of all, they're free!

THIS WAS AMAZING!! The field trip was absolutely incredible. My students' families work mostly on farms, like strawberries, lemons, and avocados. It was exciting to see a dairy farm--something we would have never experienced had it not been for Zoom and Covid. Talk about making lemonade from lemons! The parents, students, and I are very thankful for everyone's work on your field trip and we cannot express how thankful we are that you all chose to share this experience with us.
Mrs. Maya Myers, Somis School, 2nd Grade Teacher

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Take your students on a California dairy farm tour by signing up for a virtual field trip today! Virtual Field Trips are daily Monday - Friday 9 a.m. (PST), 11 a.m. (PST) and 1 p.m . (PST)providing flexibility for classes to participate throughout the day and week.

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Learn about the important roll of cattle in the Biogenic Carbon Cycle - an key part of the ability of plants to absorb and sequester carbon

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By Samantha Werth

Cattle are often thought to contribute to climate change because they belch methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas. While this is true, cattle do belch methane, it is actually part of an important natural cycle, known as the biogenic carbon cycle.

The biogenic carbon cycle centers on the ability of plants to absorb and sequester carbon. Plants have the unique ability to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and deposit that carbon into plant leaves, roots, and stems while oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. This process is known as photosynthesis and it is central to the biogenic carbon cycle.

When plants perform photosynthesis, carbon is primarily converted to cellulose, a form of carbohydrate that is one of the main building blocks for growing plants. Cellulose happens to be the most abundant organic compound in the world, present in all grasses, shrubs, crops, and trees. Cellulose content is particularly high in grasses and shrubs found on marginal lands, which are places where grains and other human edible crops cannot grow. Two-thirds of all agricultural land is marginal, full of cellulose dense grasses that are indigestible to humans. But guess who can digest cellulose?

Cattle are made to digest cellulose. They are able to consume grasses and other plants that are high in cellulose and, through enteric fermentation, digest the carbon that is stored in cellulose. Cattle can use that carbon, upcycling the cellulose, for growth, milk production, and other metabolic processes.

As a by-product of consuming cellulose, cattle belch out methane, there-by returning that carbon sequestered by plants back into the atmosphere. After about ten years, that methane is broken down and converted back to CO2. Once converted to CO2, plants can again perform photosynthesis and fix that carbon back into cellulose. From here, cattle can eat the plants and the cycle begins once again. In essence, the methane belched from cattle is not adding new carbon to the atmosphere. Rather it is part of the natural cycling of carbon through the biogenic carbon cycle.

The biogenic carbon cycle is a relatively fast cycle. That is, carbon cycles between plants and the atmosphere in a short period of time, usually in the range of a few years to a few decades. In the case of cattle, this cycle is about ten years. By comparison, carbon exchange between the atmosphere and geological reserves (such as deep soils, the deeper ocean, and rocks) is on the span of millennia, 1000 or more years. Hence, why the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (i.e. geological reserves) has a much greater impact on our climate than the biogenic carbon cycle.

It takes 1000 years for CO2 released from the burning of fossil fuels to be redeposited back into geological reserves. That is tenfold (10x) the amount of time it takes methane belched by cattle to be redeposited back into plant matter. To put this in perspective, the CO2 released from driving your car to work today will remain in the atmosphere, having a warming effect on our climate, longer than the lifetimes of you, your children, or even your grandchildren. Thus, the burning of fossil fuels has a longstanding impact on our climate, one that is much more significant than the belching of methane from cattle, which is part of the short-term biogenic carbon cycle.

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By Samantha Werth Cattle are often thought to contribute to climate change because they belch methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas. While this is true, cattle do belch methane, it is actually part of an important natural cycle, known as the biogenic carbon cycle.

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Beef Boasts - Good Things to Know About Beef

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Beef Boasts - Good Things to Know About Beef

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Beef Boasts - an AITC New Resource – #LearnAboutAg@Home!

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Cooperation with Cattleland management is a key resource to saving a bio diverse bird population

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Cooperation with Cattleland management is a key resource to saving a bio diverse bird population

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Conservation Ranching practices are now recognized as a possible solution for preservation of grass sensitive habitats bird species

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across the continent, numbers have plummeted, even among common species

In less than a single lifetime, North America has lost more than one in four of its birds, according to a report in the world's leading scientific journal.

Published in Science by researchers at seven institutions, the findings show that 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost since 1970, including birds in every ecosystem.

The losses include iconic songsters such as Eastern and Western Meadowlarks (down by 139 million) and favorite birds at feeders, such as Dark-eyed Juncos (down by 168 million) and sweet-singing White-throated Sparrows (down by 93 million).

The disappearance of even common species indicates a general shift in our ecosystems' ability to support basic birdlife, the scientists conclude.

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In less than a single lifetime, North America has lost more than one in four of its birds, according to a report in the world's leading scientific journal. Published in Science by researchers at seven institutions, the findings show that 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost since 1970, including birds in every ecosystem.

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American Farm Bureau - working with agriculture to bring STEM connections to science

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American Farm Bureau - working with agriculture to bring STEM connections to science

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In cooperation with the Beef Council, several new resources have been developed to connect our common need for agriculture, open spaces opportunities of rangeland and beef, to multiple science disciplines.

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On The Farm STEM Experience and Professional Development - Homepage

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Experience STEM and health concepts brought to life by American beef cattle ranchers, researchers, nutritionists and veterinarians. The On the Farm program features free lessons, activities, online learning tools and enriching professional development events. Tour Applications Close: March 6, 2020 Tour Applicants Notified: April 3, 2020

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Ag Is Essential!  From San Joaquin Counny AgVentures

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Ag Is Essential!  From San Joaquin Counny AgVentures

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Diverse and important, farmers and their families discuss their jobs and how they bring food to your table.  Learn about the diversity of California Agriculture.

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Source Sleuth - Identifying Credible  Sources and Primary Source Information are key to being accurate 

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Source Sleuth - Identifying Credible  Sources and Primary Source Information are key to being accurate 

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Do your students know how to find credible sources about Beef?  This blog post gives some good techniques for getting the real story.

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Yes- and the system used to help evaluate the healthy weight is called body condition scoring.

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Reviewed by Jacob R. Segers, Extension Animal Scientist
Original manuscript by Johnny Rossi, Extension Animal Scientist - Beef Cattle, and
Timothy W. Wilson, Extension Animal Scientist - Beef Cattle

Introduction

Reproduction is the most important factor in determining profitability in a cow calf enterprise. To maintain a calving interval of 365 days, a cow must re-breed in 80 to 85 days after calving. Many cows in Georgia need a higher level of condition at calving and breeding to improve reproductive performance. Poor reproductive performance is directly linked to the percentage of body fat in beef cows. Body condition scoring (BCS) is an easy and economical way to evaluate the body fat percentage of a cow. Cows can then be sorted and fed according to nutritional needs. Body condition scoring can be an effective tool for cattle producers who cannot weigh cattle, and it may be an even better measurement of cow condition and reproductive performance than weight. Most studies show that body condition decreases at a faster rate than weight loss. Therefore, body condition scoring can estimate the probability of re-breeding.

Beef cattle have nutrient requirements in priority order for body maintenance, fetal development, lactation, growth and breeding. The nutrient intake is distributed in the body of the cow to fill these nutrient requirements. As each requirement is filled, the available nutrient is shifted to the next lower priority. The reverse shift is also obvious in beef cows. As nutrient requirements exceed intake, nutrients are shifted from the lower priority requirements to be sure that higher priority requirements are filled. Beef cattle store excess nutrients as body fat. The fat stores are mobilized when the nutrient demands exceed the available intake. In times of severe nutrient restriction, muscle tissue is mobilized once fat and other nutrient stores have been depleted. Researchers have determined that a certain amount of body fat is required for the reproductive system to function. Inadequate nutrition is most often the cause of poor reproductive performance. Developing a nutrition program is easier and more cost effective when all cows on the farm can be managed in a similar manner. This is especially true when all cows on a farm are managed in a single herd, which is often the case with small production units. Calving year-round will make it very difficult to maintain adequate body condition on all cows at the critical times.

Importance of Body Condition Scoring

Body condition affects both cow and calf performance. Poor body condition is associated with reduced income per cow, increased post-partum interval, weak calves at birth, low quality and quantity of colostrum, reduced milk production, increased dystocia, and lower weaning weights. Increasing post-partum interval will result in a younger, smaller calf at weaning the next year and will result in lower incomes if sold at weaning. Weak calves at birth may not get adequate colostrum and are more susceptible to disease, reduced weaning weights, reduced feedlot performance, and less desirable carcass traits. Research clearly shows that cows in moderate body condition will have a shorter interval from calving to first estrus than cows in thin condition. This supports the conclusion that BCS is one of the most important factors in determining subsequent reproductive performance.

How to Body Condition Score

To properly evaluate body condition for cattle, an observer must be familiar with skeletal structures and with muscle and fat positioning. Although there are several methods available to determine body composition, many cattle producers use a scoring system that involves ranking cattle on a scale. This manuscript will focus on the commonly used scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese (Whitman, 1975).

Cattlemen can easily observe cattle under pasture conditions to obtain body condition scores. Familiarity with key skeletal structures listed in Figure 1 is required to apply an accurate body condition score. A description of each condition score is listed in Table 1.

Figure 1. Skeletal structures of a cow used to evaluate body condition score.

Table 1. Description of body condition scores (BCS) (1 [thin] to 9 [obese])a.

BCS 2

BCS 3

BCS 4

BCS 5

BCS 6

BCS 7

Body condition scoring is a subjective measurement, meaning that one producer may score slightly different than another. The producer can gain experience using body condition scores by identifying cattle into one of three categories: thin (1 to 3), borderline (4), optimum (5 to 7) or too fat (8 and 9). Over time, as the producer becomes familiar with details of each specific body condition score, these categories can be further broken into actual condition scores. Research reported by the University of Florida (Table 2) demonstrates that as cattle decrease from a body condition score of 5 to 4, they may have reduced pregnancy rates by as much as 30 percent. An additional 30 percent of pregnancies can be lost when cattle drop from a 4 to a 3. Cattle that receive a BCS of 5 or below may have reduced pregnancy rates. Although most cattlemen tend to keep cows on the thin side, cattle that are obese (BCS of 8 to 9) may also have reduced pregnancy rates.

Table 2. Relationship of parity and body condition score to pregnancy rate (%)a.

Table 3 shows the impact of BCS on pregnancy percentage, calving interval, calf performance, calf price and income. Cows in a borderline body condition (BCS of 4) have greatly reduced pregnancy rates, increased calving intervals, lower calf daily gain and greatly reduced yearly income. For example, a cow calving in a BCS of 4 will return an income of approximately $100 less than a cow calving in a BCS of 5. If BCS is taken 90 days prior to calving, the cows in borderline condition can be properly supplemented to achieve a BCS of at least 5 at calving. In most cases supplemental feed costs will be approximately $25 to $35 for feed that costs $100 to $150 per ton. This is far less money spent on feed than would be lost if cows were allowed to stay in a BCS of 4. The impacts are even greater for a BCS of 3 and is a condition that should never happen with any of the cows in the herd.

Table 3. Relationship of body condition score to beef cow performance and incomea.

a(Adapted from Kunkle et al., 1998; UF/IFAS Publication SP-144.
b(Body Condition Score; scale of 1 [thin] to 9 [obese]).
c(Weaning Age; 240 days for cows in BCS 5 and 6 and decreasing as calving interval increases).
d(Daily Gain)
e(Weaning Weight; calculated as calf age multiplied by calf gain plus birth weight [70 lbs]).
f(Average price for similar weight calves during 1991 and 1992).
g(Calculated as income/calf times pregnancy rate times 0.92 [% calves raised of those pregnant]).

When to Evaluate Body Condition

Many beef producers are involved in diversified farming operations. These operations may combine cattle with row crops, poultry houses, timber and many other time consuming production practices. Regardless of the combination, additional obligations may limit the amount of time producers can spend evaluating body condition. However, neglecting to properly observe and record body condition can have a substantial impact on overall productivity and profits.

To properly identify cattle that have increased nutritional needs, producers should evaluate body condition as often as possible, but a minimum of three times (weaning, 90 days pre-calving and breeding) per year is preferred. Cattle that are calving should have enough body condition to allow for a reduction in body mass due to weight being lost during the parturition process and fluids being displaced. Body condition score at calving time provides the best prediction of re-breeding performance. Evaluating BCS approximately 90 days prior to calving allows sufficient time to adjust the feed ration to ensure cows are in adequate body condition at calving.

Weaning

Evaluating body condition at weaning can be useful to determine which cows or heifers need the most gain prior to calving. Since calves will no longer suckle, lactating cows will be able to dry off and add needed weight before calving. The time period from weaning to calving has proven to be the easiest and most economical time to add condition to cattle. Producers who fail to evaluate body condition and adjust the nutritional needs of the cow herd after weaning may have difficulty adding condition later in the production cycle.

90 days Prior to Calving

Assessing body condition 90 days prior to the beginning of the calving season may be useful in preventing extended periods of anestrus. This score may be taken at weaning in herds that delay weaning until calves are 8 to10 months of age. However, weaning calves at least 90 days prior to the start of the calving season is recommended. Cow nutritional requirements are greatly lowered when non-lactating and should allow the cow to achieve adequate body condition at calving with minimal supplemental feeding. Nutrition can then be adjusted for cattle that receive body condition scores of less than 5 after this assessment. Although changes in weight can be achieved, take care to prevent excessive weight gain immediately prior to calving. Cows should be fed to calve in a BCS of 5 to 6 and heifers a BCS of 6.

Breeding

After undergoing the stress of parturition, cattle will lose body condition. The time period from calving to breeding is the most difficult in which to improve body condition. This is why it is very important to body condition score cows 90 days prior to calving and make ration changes to achieve optimum BCS prior to calving. Approximately 90 percent of cattle in optimum body condition will resume estrus cyclic activity 60 days postpartum. Assessing body condition at breeding may offer useful information that may help explain reduced pregnancy rates.

Body Condition Score and Calving Season

The calving season in Georgia varies widely among cattle operations, but most calves are born from September through March. Calving season has a large impact on phase of the cow's yearly production cycle in which body condition score is most likely to be deficient.

In the southeast, cows calving in the fall months are likely to have adequate body condition score, so the winter feeding period usually begins shortly after the calving season begins. Therefore, cows are lactating throughout the winter feeding period. Increased demands of lactation and declining feed quality during the fall months often causes inadequate body condition by the start of the breeding season, which begins in early- to mid-winter. The majority of producers feed hay as the base diet during this period. Hay will likely require supplementation and the hay feeding period may last throughout the breeding period for cows calving during the fall. In contrast, cows calving in late winter will be in late gestation and early lactation during the winter feeding period. Body condition score at calving will have to be monitored more closely than fall calving cows as the cows will be fed hay through most of the last trimester. Cows will likely be fed a hay based diet that requires supplementation during the early lactation period. However, supplementation can cease when hay feeding stops and grazing becomes available. Cows should be able to increase body condition score when grazing lush spring growth of fescue, ryegrass, or small grain pasture.

Increasing Body Condition Score from Calving to Breeding

The easiest and most economical time to improve body condition score is from weaning to calving. In situations where cows calve in a less than adequate body condition, weight gain must be increased rapidly following calving to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates at the end of the breeding season. The most difficult period to maintain body condition is from calving to breeding. Body condition score and re-breeding rates can be improved in cows calving in less than a 5 condition score if fed to increase condition prior to the beginning of the breeding season. Mature cows, however, will respond to supplementation much better than first calf heifers. Table 4 illustrates the effects of body condition score at calving and subsequent body weight gain on pregnancy rates of first calf heifers. Heifers that calved in a body condition score of 5 or above had greater than 90 percent pregnancy rates when either gaining weight or maintaining weight. In heifers calving in a BCS of less than 5, pregnancy rate was increased from 36 to 67 percent by increasing daily gain from 0.7 to 1.8 pounds per day. Even though increasing daily gains improved pregnancy rates, the 67 percent pregnancy rate is not acceptable and was far below both groups calving in a condition score of 5 or greater. This study shows that, for first calf heifers, body condition score at calving is the key component to high re-breeding rates.

Table 4. Effects of calving BCS and subsequent weight gain on reproductive performance of first calf heifers.a

aAdapted from Bell, et al. 1990
b Weight gain = daily weight gains from calving to the start of the breeding season.

Body condition score at calving is less critical for mature cows. Certainly, it is ideal to have cows in a body condition score of 5 at calving through breeding. Acceptable re-breeding rates, however, can be achieved in mature cows that calve in borderline (BCS of 4) condition if cows are fed to increase body condition score to a 5 at the start of the breeding season.

A study evaluated the effects of nutrient intake from the second trimester through the start of the breeding season. The first group was fed to maintain a body condition score of 5 from the second trimester to the start of the breeding season. The second group was fed to be a BCS of 4 during the second trimester, and then regain condition during the third trimester to a BCS of 5 at calving. The third group was fed to be in a BCS of 4 from the second trimester through 28 days post-calving, and then gain weight to be in a BCS of 5 at the start of the breeding season. Table 5 shows the body condition scores and Table 6 shows the post-calving weight gains and pregnancy rates. All groups were in a BCS of 5 just prior to the start of the breeding season as planned. Acceptable pregnancy rates occurred in all groups. Cows that calved in a BCS of 5 to 6 lost weight from calving to the start of the breeding season; cows that calved in a BCS of 4.8 had to be fed to gain 3.43 lbs per day to increase body condition to maintain an acceptable re-breeding rate. Such rapid weight gain would require a grain-based or corn silage based diet. Cows in a BCS of less than 5 at calving should be separated from the rest of the herd and a feeding program designed to increase BCS should begin immediately. The cows that calved in a BCS of 4.8 were only slightly below the desired BCS of 5 and cows calving in a BCS of less than 4 may not have acceptable pregnancy rates.

Table 5. Effect of restricted feeding on body condition score of mature cows.a

Table 6. Effect of restricted feeding on postpartum weight gain and pregnancy rates of mature cows.a

aAdapted from Freetly et al., 2000.
bHigh-High-High = maintain BCS of 5.5 from weaning to breeding. Low-High-High = decline in BCS in second trimester and regain BCS to a five during third trimester. Low-Low-High = decline in BCS
during second trimester through 28 days post-calving, then regain BCS to a 5 at breeding.

Supplemental Feeding Based on Body Condition Score

Grouping by Body Condition Score

A body condition scoring system is much more effective when cows can be sorted and supplemented relative to target body condition score. The amount of sorting will depend on the availability of pastures and labor. Ideally, mature cows should be separated into an adequate (≥5 condition score) and inadequate BCS group (<5 condition score). In addition, first-calf heifers and developing heifers should remain in separate groups. Condition scores of heifers do not vary as greatly as those of mature cows, and heifers can usually be fed together.

Another option is to sort your cow herd into mature cows in condition score of 5 and greater in one group and heifers plus cows in condition score of less than 5 in another group. The primary benefit of grouping by body condition is to reduce supplemental feeding costs and implement a more specialized management system for thin cows.

Determining Needed Level of Supplementation

Body condition scores of cows must be determined prior to the beginning of a supplemental feeding program. Body condition score has a significant impact on the requirement for energy but only a small effect on the protein requirement. Many supplementation programs focus only on supplemental protein and fall short of providing enough energy to maintain an adequate BCS. Energy rather than protein is often the most limiting nutrient in Georgia forages.

To increase body condition, the first step is to determine how many pounds a cow needs to gain to reach the desired BCS. To increase one condition score, a cow needs to gain about 75 pounds. A dry pregnant cow would need approximately 375 pounds and a lactating cow 575 pounds of TDN (Total digestible nutrients) above maintenance to increase one body condition score in a 75-day period. This would equate to approximately 6.5 pounds of corn per day for a dry pregnant cow and 10 pounds of corn per day for a lactating cow.

Tables 7 and 8 list the requirements for TDN and crude protein for cows and heifers in different body condition scores. For example, a cow that is in body condition score of 4 at 60 days prior to calving needs to gain about 1.25 lb per day to reach a condition score of 5 at calving.

The next step is to determine if the feedstuffs available on the farm will support this gain. For example, a nutrient analyses indicated that the hay was 10 percent crude protein and 50 percent TDN. Assume that a dry cow will consume about 2.0 percent of body weight per day and a lactating cow will consume about 2.25 percent of her body weight per day in dry feed. Therefore, the dry cow in a body condition of 4 will consume about 24 lbs of hay per day. The 24 pounds of hay at 50 percent of TDN will yield 12 pounds of TDN. From the information in Table 7, the cow needs 16 pounds of TDN. Therefore, the cow must be supplemented with 4 pounds of TDN per day. There are many grains, byproduct feeds and supplements that will work. The primary factor in determining which supplement to use is price. The crude protein supplied by the 24 pounds of hay is about 2.4 pounds per day, and the cow requires 2.1 pounds per day. Therefore, the supplemental feed does not have to be high in crude protein, and high energy, low crude protein feeds such as corn can be used. In most cases, hay will not supply sufficient nutrients to increase body condition score. Computer ration balancing programs are available through Cooperative Extension. These programs can rapidly balance diets for protein and energy to achieve the desired body condition score, but an accurate analysis of feeds is needed to accurately balance a diet.

Status and Revision History
Published on Apr 14, 2006
Published on Feb 04, 2009
In Review on Jan 05, 2010
Published with Full Review on Feb 06, 2014
Unpublished/Removed on Jan 09, 2017
Published with Full Review on Feb 27, 2019

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Body condition scoring (BCS) is an easy and economical way to evaluate the body fat percentage of a cow. Cows can then be sorted and fed according to nutritional needs. Body condition scoring can be an effective tool for cattle producers who cannot weigh cattle, and it may be an even better measurement of cow condition and reproductive performance than weight.

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Beltway scientist | MEAT POULTRY

From the lecture hall to the halls of government, food scientists are a key part of the food safety and our policies concerning food safety. Read about where meat science and food safety has taken this dynamic educator so far.

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Aug. 13, 1997, marked a significant day in the history of the US beef industry, as well as a significant day in the life and career of Mindy Brashears, PhD.

It was the day of the of the Hudson Foods' ground beef recall, where more than 25 million lbs of ground beef were recalled for E. coli. The recall came just a few years after the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had declared E.coli O157:H7 an adulterant in ground beef and instituted an industrywide testing program for the pathogen. At that time, the recall was the largest in US history.

It was an important day for anyone working in the Nebraska beef industry, and also for Brashears.

Aug. 13, 1997, was also Brashears' first day on the job as a faculty member and extension specialist at the University of Nebraska. Thanks to this new job, the 25-million-lb recall was not only an issue for Hudson Foods, but for Brashears as well.

"I will never forget my first day on the job," she said. "I was hired in extension to work with the media, so on my first day, I was on the phone doing interviews with the Omaha World Herald answering questions about the recall. I got thrown into the deep end right when I started my career."

Brashears served in that role at the University of Nebraska for five years before moving to Texas Tech University (where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in food technology years before). At Texas Tech, she moved up the academic ladder from assistant professor to associate professor, and eight years later to full professor, a role she holds again today.

But while she never shed the title of scientist, she left her academic comfort zone in Texas for two years to answer an unexpected call from Washington.
Nomination to confirmation
Brashears' journey to DC - to her roles as deputy undersecretary and later undersecretary of agriculture - was no different than any other activity in government - hurry up and wait.

She was first contacted for the job of undersecretary of agriculture in December of 2016, started work as deputy in January of 2019, but didn't get fully confirmed until March of 2020.

"I got a text message from a congressional rep in DC asking, 'Can we throw your name in the hat for this position?' I said, 'Sure.' I mean, it's great to be considered. I never thought I'd be chosen for the job. I'm not a political person, I'm a scientist," she said. "And then there was another call and it got elevated to the White House liaison, and then I'm at the White House having interviews and meeting the secretary. Then I'm sitting before a Senate hearing."

However, it took almost two years - until November of 2018 - to have that hearing in the Senate, thanks to slowdowns with the Brett Kavanaugh hearings and midterm elections.

On Dec. 21, 2018, Brashears was told she got a unanimous consent package and would be voted on and confirmed as undersecretary the next day. Then the government shut down.

After several weeks of the shutdown, followed by a new Senate taking office, the process was virtually rebooted and confirmations were put on hold. Considering the two years that had already gone by and all the vetting that had been done along the way, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue decided not to wait any longer and hired Brashears as deputy undersecretary. She began her work at USDA under that title in January 2019. Senator John Neely Kennedy (R-La.) put a continued hold on all USDA nominations, but it didn't stop her from diving into the work she was brought on to do.

In March 2020, one year into her Washington job, as the Senate started to debate and approve the first COVID relief package, Senator Kennedy removed the hold on Brashears' confirmation alone, and she was officially confirmed and moved up to undersecretary of agriculture.

"The job was technically the same, it didn't really change at all," she said. "I had all the same responsibilities and functions; it was just a title change and an official Senate confirmation."
Political science
Despite having to jump through the political hoops of Washington, DC, in order to end up at the USDA, Brashears never considered herself a politician. In fact, she always felt her experience as a scientist was exactly the prerequisite the USDA was looking for.

"My primary job was to go in, as a scientist, and make sure that decisions being made were science-based and data-driven. That was my charge; that was my objective from day one," she said.

Swine slaughter modernization was first on the agenda, and she approached the project as a scientist, not a politician.

"I spent hours and days reading piles of documents about pork modernization. Then I went to traditionally inspected plants and to those in the HIMP (HACCP Inspection Models Project) program, to see how they operated. I thought, 'this makes sense,'" she said. "Modernized inspection is switching from a fully visual inspection to a food safety focus. It's taking HACCP to the next level. We're moving from what we did in 1906 to what we should be doing now - and there's so much data to support it."

"My mission right now is bridging that gap and getting everyone to work together and not be afraid to share data with each other. That's what I'm working to facilitate and coordinate."

HIMP was designed to allow for more efficiency and flexibility in slaughter inspection and for more focus on food safety preventative controls identified in the plant's HACCP plan. The next evolution of HIMP was the New Swine Inspection System (NSIS), which became final by the end of 2019, during Brashears' term at USDA. FSIS established NSIS to improve the effectiveness of market hog inspection, to make better use of the agency's resources and to remove unnecessary obstacles to industry innovation.

Brashears considers modernization of swine slaughter and modernization of egg processing to be two significant accomplishments during her tenure with USDA.

"The biggest thing I wanted to achieve while I was in Washington, was a change in the culture at FSIS to really being data driven and to appreciate science, as opposed to always being driven by policy and saying, 'Well, this is going to take five years - so we're not even going to go down that road, because it's going to take too long,'" she said. "Changing that culture was important to me and I think the agency started moving in that direction.

"When COVID hit, the actual role of the agency shifted to being focused on managing the food supply chain. We learned quickly that food availability is a matter of national security, and we've taken that for granted in the past," she said. "We worked closely and collaboratively with meat and poultry plants to ensure that we had food in this country - and that expanded beyond just meat and poultry. We worked closely with FDA to make sure these companies weren't closed down, so we could maintain the integrity of the food supply. The COVID pandemic was by far the most challenging thing I faced during my time at USDA.

"I was so grateful for Secretary Purdue - for his leadership and the way he helped us through it. I was honored to be a part of that process."
Bridging the gap

Brashears' appointment as undersecretary of agriculture ended with the new administration, which forced her back into the job market and the decision of whether or not to return to academia.

"I had many opportunities when I left USDA for administrative positions at other universities, which were all great. I love academia. I love being back in academia - mentoring students and really raising up the next generation of leaders. After exploring many other options, I just knew that Texas Tech was where I needed to be."

Brashears returned to her role as professor in the department of animal and food sciences, that she had held since 2009, and added the role of associate vice president of research at the university.

"The reason I specifically wanted to go back to academia and not necessarily the industry was that when I was in DC and someone came to talk to me, they usually had their mind made up - no one was very willing to learn and change," she said. "But when you're at a university and you're mentoring students, one on one, when they're in their early 20s, that's when you really have an influence on that person. You can shape their ideas, the way they see the world and really make a difference in the industry. There aren't very many environments or jobs where you get to do that."

In addition to her time spent teaching, mentoring and conducting research at Texas Tech, Brashears now spends additional time, post-USDA, doing public speaking, conducting webinars and interacting with industry. She's often asked to share her perspectives and insights about ways to bridge the gap between government, industry and academia.

"When it comes to government, industry and academia, everyone has a different approach," she said. "In academia, a scientist is working to get published, to get tenure, they're not really concerned with application. In industry, the scientists are working solely on the application to their particular process. And in government, scientific data are used just to establish policy. If we could just bring all of those entities together, I really think we'd have a strong synergistic foundation to move the bar forward in food safety and really make an impact on things now. At the moment, things are pretty siloed.

"My mission right now is bridging that gap and getting everyone to work together and not be afraid to share data with each other. That's what I'm working to facilitate and coordinate."

Years down the road, Brashears anticipates still working in academia, possibly switching gears to an administrative role. But for now, her focus is honed on teaching, research and food safety.

"I feel like my area of influence and passion is genuinely in food safety. I think if I went into administration, my knowledge would be lost, and my focus would change. I'm not ready for that right now - in 10 years, maybe. I can't imagine ever not being associated with students and mentoring students and investing my life back into that generation.

"For now, I want to work closely with industry, developing and implementing new food safety technologies. I have a strong passion for pre-harvest food safety - that's where I began my career. I think the future of food safety lies in more of a systems approach - how do all of the interventions work together to control the safety of the final product, as opposed to at just one point in the process? That takes us back to pre-harvest. I think in the future, the regulatory side is going to be driving pre-harvest - we're going to have to be doing more on the farm. Every part of the production process is going to have to work together to embrace new technologies and interventions."

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Aug. 13, 1997, marked a significant day in the history of the US beef industry, as well as a significant day in the life and career of Mindy Brashears, PhD. It was the day of the of the Hudson Foods' ground beef recall, where more than 25 million lbs of ground beef were recalled for E.

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Amador El Dorado Sacramento Cattlewomen - Ag Day Presentation on Cattle and the Products they Produce

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Amador El Dorado Sacramento Cattlewomen - Ag Day Presentation on Cattle and the Products they Produce

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UCCE along with the AES Cattlewomen worked together to create an 8 min 37 second video of our Farm Day presentation to share with students.  Student Beef Ambassadors help with the presentation as well!  Enjoy!

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A story writing contest sponsored by the California Ag in the Classroom Foundation.  Appropriate for grades 3 to 8, this contest brings together student authored stories with student created art.   The work of the winners are published in an annual collection, which allows many young people to become published authors.

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Imagine this... Story Writing Contest

California students in grades 3-8 creatively explore where their food comes from by writing narratives. The winning stories from each grade are illustrated by high school art students and published in our annual story book, Imagine this... Stories Inspired by Agriculture.

The Contest

Students write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events based on accurate information about California agriculture. See prompt ideas below.
Common Core State Standards (W.3-8.2,3)

Congratulations Winners!

To Enter

Helpful Resources

Buy the book! - Imagine this... Stories Inspired by Agriculture 2021

Featuring stories from the 2021 Imagine this... contest. Authors include Jayna Wenger, Sofia Magni, Evelyn Dores, Hailee Luiz, Allee DePalma, Will Magni, Catherine Gruen.

Watch videos featuring past winning students and teachers!

View all of the Imagine this...videos on YouTube!

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Judy Culbertson, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
California students in grades 3-8 creatively explore where their food comes from by writing narratives. The winning stories from each grade are illustrated by high school art students and published in our annual story book, Imagine this... Stories Inspired by Agriculture .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learn about
professional development opportunities

More Info

Seeking Inspired Learners
to Help Create a More
Food Secure World

Our collective future hinges on inspiration, in the classroom and around the world. The challenges we face on climate, food security, and other overwhelming problems must be met by those who are inspired to break down barriers and build connections. Students and educators must remain connected to, and motivated by, the elements of their world that spark curiosity and generate wonder.

Encouraging inspiration is the cornerstone of modern STEM curriculum

Encouraging inspiration is the cornerstone of modern STEM curriculum. New educational standards are emerging which stimulate question making and self-direction. As our global economy is increasingly reliant on technology, it is critical that our nation supports the next generation of problem solvers by providing the necessary foundational knowledge for them as they prepare to enter the field.

The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education provides learning materials that are in alignment with contemporary STEM standards; materials that spark inspiration. We are seeking learners and educators who kindle the flame of knowledge; who add ideas and draw in the like-minded to contribute to the light. Together, we can work to solve the world's problems, and we can help cultivate the next generation of leaders that will tackle the challenges they may face in this rapidly changing world.

New Resources and Opportunities Based
on Next Generation Science Standards

A new vision for learning is activating improvements in science education across the U.S. The "Framework for K-12 Science Education" provides an innovative and uplifting foundation by which expectations are set for what science students should know and for what they should be able to do.

The required efforts for school districts around the nation to implement Next Generation Science Standards will demand a significant investment in time, resources, and an ongoing commitment from state, district, and school leadership. Continuing education requirements for NGSS present an additional encumbrance for the classroom.

The Center is ready to help fill this resource and training gap with materials and continuing education opportunities provided at no cost.

Everyone Eats; Food and Agriculture
are Universally Relevant

Food is universally relevant. After all, everyone eats. The production of food provides thousands of opportunities for students to explore naturally occurring phenomena among the interactions of living things and the earth's systems. Further, the practice of agriculture, since its origins, has been a continuous series of design challenges to cultivate nature for the needs of humans. Food and agriculture present a relatable, and nearly limitless, lens through which students and educators can find opportunities to spark inquiry and solve problems.

The Center offers a conduit for educators, scientists and experts in the field to collaborate

The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education seeks to make phenomena and design challenges known to science teachers who do not have direct access to food production or agriculture. The Center offers a conduit for educators, scientists and experts in the field to collaborate in the service of creating high quality learning materials and professional development experiences.

Investing in a Scientifically Literate
Society and Workforce

Currently about 58 million students attend elementary and secondary schools. Sixteen million of them will become adults in the next four years. They will choose careers, start families and formulate the structures, beliefs and patterns that will carry them through their lives. Unfortunately, very few of them will be exposed to agriculture along the way. The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education is an educational effort to help young people gain a critical awareness of the juncture between food production, science and their daily lives.

Subscribe

Stay Connected

Join us online to receive occasional communications from The Center. Unsubscribe anytime, your information will not be shared.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about professional development opportunities More Info Seeking Inspired Learners to Help Create a More Food Secure World Our collective future hinges on inspiration, in the classroom and around the world. The challenges we face on climate, food security, and other overwhelming problems must be met by those who are inspired to break down barriers and build connections.

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Agriculture Technology is bringing tools to managers and producers to help with timely and better crop management.  The benefits for animal agriculture will not be far behind.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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STEM and Food - science is a big part of food production

# data[].attributes.subject
STEM and Food - science is a big part of food production

# data[].attributes.body
Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learn about
professional development opportunities

More Info

Seeking Inspired Learners
to Help Create a More
Food Secure World

Our collective future hinges on inspiration, in the classroom and around the world. The challenges we face on climate, food security, and other overwhelming problems must be met by those who are inspired to break down barriers and build connections. Students and educators must remain connected to, and motivated by, the elements of their world that spark curiosity and generate wonder.

Encouraging inspiration is the cornerstone of modern STEM curriculum

Encouraging inspiration is the cornerstone of modern STEM curriculum. New educational standards are emerging which stimulate question making and self-direction. As our global economy is increasingly reliant on technology, it is critical that our nation supports the next generation of problem solvers by providing the necessary foundational knowledge for them as they prepare to enter the field.

The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education provides learning materials that are in alignment with contemporary STEM standards; materials that spark inspiration. We are seeking learners and educators who kindle the flame of knowledge; who add ideas and draw in the like-minded to contribute to the light. Together, we can work to solve the world's problems, and we can help cultivate the next generation of leaders that will tackle the challenges they may face in this rapidly changing world.

New Resources and Opportunities Based
on Next Generation Science Standards

A new vision for learning is activating improvements in science education across the U.S. The "Framework for K-12 Science Education" provides an innovative and uplifting foundation by which expectations are set for what science students should know and for what they should be able to do.

The required efforts for school districts around the nation to implement Next Generation Science Standards will demand a significant investment in time, resources, and an ongoing commitment from state, district, and school leadership. Continuing education requirements for NGSS present an additional encumbrance for the classroom.

The Center is ready to help fill this resource and training gap with materials and continuing education opportunities provided at no cost.

Everyone Eats; Food and Agriculture
are Universally Relevant

Food is universally relevant. After all, everyone eats. The production of food provides thousands of opportunities for students to explore naturally occurring phenomena among the interactions of living things and the earth's systems. Further, the practice of agriculture, since its origins, has been a continuous series of design challenges to cultivate nature for the needs of humans. Food and agriculture present a relatable, and nearly limitless, lens through which students and educators can find opportunities to spark inquiry and solve problems.

The Center offers a conduit for educators, scientists and experts in the field to collaborate

The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education seeks to make phenomena and design challenges known to science teachers who do not have direct access to food production or agriculture. The Center offers a conduit for educators, scientists and experts in the field to collaborate in the service of creating high quality learning materials and professional development experiences.

Investing in a Scientifically Literate
Society and Workforce

Currently about 58 million students attend elementary and secondary schools. Sixteen million of them will become adults in the next four years. They will choose careers, start families and formulate the structures, beliefs and patterns that will carry them through their lives. Unfortunately, very few of them will be exposed to agriculture along the way. The Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education is an educational effort to help young people gain a critical awareness of the juncture between food production, science and their daily lives.

Subscribe

Stay Connected

Join us online to receive occasional communications from The Center. Unsubscribe anytime, your information will not be shared.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about professional development opportunities More Info Seeking Inspired Learners to Help Create a More Food Secure World Our collective future hinges on inspiration, in the classroom and around the world. The challenges we face on climate, food security, and other overwhelming problems must be met by those who are inspired to break down barriers and build connections.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Debra Spielmaker, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kindergarten Rancher | National Agriculture in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Agriculture in the Classroom website provides K-12 educators with engaging resources to increase agricultural literacy among their students.

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2024 Cow Palace Grand National Rodeo School Tour Day 

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2024 Cow Palace Grand National Rodeo School Tour Day 

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This program is available to kindergarten through 5th grade students. Students will be on site touring the Cow Palace on Friday, October 11, from 9 AM - 1 PM. We expect approximately 1,00 students in grades K-5.

We are looking at having booths available if you are interested in joining us for this amazing day of Agricultural Education, please contact Kelly Violini at Kelly@montereycountyfair.com or please call 831-372-8106  for more information.

Thank you!