EDUCATION

Our education efforts go towards several constituencies, from the general public to lawmakers to the media. But none is of more importance than educating the next generation. Youth focused programs, then, are central to our educational mission, which includes contributing funds to 4-H and FFA.

Speaking to urban youth, who haven’t even been on a farm, is also rewarding and heightens their appreciation of agriculture and the production of corn. Places we typically exhibit include the Aspire to Grow Conference, targeting young women and the Children’s’ Water Festival in Greeley, which speaks directly to students in the 4^th grade. We also talk to K-12 teachers in the state, via the Summer Ag Institute’s 5-day course where we completely cover the tuition of two educators at the event.

There are many compelling reasons to educate students in Colorado about corn. In understanding the life cycle and the plant science of corn, they come to awaken to the potential of the crop – not only for variety and nutrition on their dinner table, but also for feeding cattle and poultry and for being the surprising key element of a number of innovative industrial and household products. This teaches students not to take any crop for granted and to see how many different ways that nature’s gifts can be put to good use.