Throughout much of the history of the United States, agriculture and education have been closely related. During the decades when most Americans lived on farms or in small towns, students were familiar with farm life. In fact, the school year was planned around the planting, cultivating and harvesting schedules.
In the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s, as the farm population shrank, the agricultural emphasis decreased in schools. Agriculture education was mainly offered to those few students wanting to make a career of agriculture.
In the years following, a small nucleus of educators and others continued to recognize the role of farming and food production in environmental quality, wildlife habitat, clean water and the preservation and improvement of forests. They kept interest in agriculture and the environment alive during a period when interest by the public as a whole was decreasing.
In 1981, the United States Department of Agriculture organized a meeting of agriculture groups and educators in Washington, D.C. to discuss agricultural literacy. A national task force was selected from this group. As a result of the meeting, the USDA established Ag in the Classroom.
Each state organization addresses agriculture education in a way best suited to its own needs. There is an AITC presence in every state and U.S. territory.
The strength of the Ag in the Classroom program comes from its grassroots organization and the fact that educators are very much a part of the movement. Giant strides have been made since 1981. AITC is regarded as a refreshing and flexible education program designed to supplement and enhance the teacher’s existing curriculum.