CLAY COUNTY-Clay County Farm Bureau has announced the donation of agriculture-friendly books and educator guides to Clay County classrooms as a part of the Ag in the Classroom initiative.

In honor of Tennessee Ag Literacy Week, which runs from November 17 to November 23, local students from Pre-K through 8th grade will have access to engaging educational materials designed to connect them with the importance of agriculture in their daily lives.

Working with Clay County Ag in the Classroom, April Patterson has coordinated the effort to provide selected books and educator guides to every classroom in the county.

These resources make it easy for teachers to incorporate agriculture into their lesson plans, building a foundation of agricultural literacy that aligns with the state’s focus on agribusiness and environmental education.

Clay County Farm Bureau President Jeff Clements and Clay County Farm Bureau Director Nick Patterson, both of whom are deeply invested in supporting agricultural education in the community, were on hand for the donation.

“Ag in the Classroom is a meaningful program that allows us to connect students to the farming community and the role agriculture plays in their lives,” Clements said.

Books selected for donation by grade level included:

• Pre-K to 2nd Grade—“Farm Boots” and “What’s in My Lunchbox,” which introduce young children to farm life and the journey of food from farm to table;

• 3rd to 5th Grade—“Right This Very Minute” and “Soil in Jackie’s Garden,” which explore food production and soil science, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world; and

• 6th to 8th Grade—“Hero for Hungry,” which offers older students a story about agricultural innovation and the fight against hunger, sparking discussions on food security and careers in agriculture.

Each book is accompanied by an educator guide filled with interactive activities and lesson ideas tailored to bring the themes of agriculture, sustainability, and science to life in the classroom.

This initiative was made possible thanks to the generosity of Nick and April Patterson of Acres of Grace Farms, who donated these books and educator guides for every classroom in the Clay County school system, from Pre-K through 8th grade.

The Ag in the Classroom initiative also supports Clay County Farm Bureau’s ongoing commitment to community engagement through the A Southern Marketplace event held at Acres of Grace Farms, where a portion of proceeds go back into educational projects and local charities.

Clay County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Program is dedicated to fostering agricultural literacy among young learners.

By providing teachers and students with resources that illustrate agriculture’s role in society, the program seeks to build awareness and understanding of the agricultural industry, inspiring the next generation to appreciate and support local and global farming communities.