New York Ag in the Classroom and the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H program invite you to be a reader for the annual Agriculture Literacy Week to be held March 17-21st, 2025. In 2024, 3,100 books were donated last year with over 103,000 students participating in the book reading and related hands-on activity throughout New York State. In Chautauqua County, more than 50 volunteers read to over 3,200 elementary students with a book donated to every school or library that participated.
The selected book for 2025 is "The Pie That Molly Grew", written by Sue Heavenrich, and illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg. Beginning with the planting of a single seed, join Molly on the journey of bringing a pumpkin to harvest. Under Molly’s watchful eye and care, each stage of growth – from the seed to the sprout to the leaves to the final fruit on the vine – is showcased. At the end, Molly’s lovely pumpkin is turned into a delicious pie to one and all to share in a celebration of gratitude...all from the seed that Molly sowed!
The book selected for the 2025 Agricultural Literacy week is featuring the honorable work of New York author Sue Heavenrich. Based in Tioga County, Sue is a lifelong lover of biology, gardening, and reading. A teacher of many sorts, Sue especially loves telling stories about the science she sees in her backyard, or in this case, her garden!
Donations are necessary to purchase the books and classroom supplies, which are then donated to school libraries. If you decide to donate, no matter the amount, your name will be featured on the bookplate inside the book that is donated. Those who are interested in donating should fill out the PDF form below and return to the contact for this page by email, fax, or mail, or fill out the NEW Online Donor Form! Donations can also be made directly through PayPal.
Online Donor Form: 2025 Ag Literacy Week Donor Online Form
Fillable PDF Donor Form: 2025 Ag Literacy Week Donor Form PDF
PayPal Donation Link: PayPal Donation Link
Volunteers will visit local elementary schools during Ag Literacy Week to read an agriculturally based book and lead a related, hands-on with the students. At the conclusion of the day's activities, the book will be donated to the school library for students and teachers to use throughout the school year. Volunteers who are interested in participating in New York Ag Literacy Week in Chautauqua County should fill out the PDF form below and return to the contact for this page by email, fax, or mail, or fill out the NEW Online Volunteer Form.
Online Volunteer Form: 2025 Ag Literacy Week Volunteer Online Form
Fillable PDF Volunteer Form: 2025 Ag Literacy Week Volunteer Form PDF
Visit the New York State Ag in the Classroom website to learn more about statewide activities and to learn about agriculture-themed books that have been featured in other years.
Volunteers throughout the county will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary aged students and lead them in related, hands-on activity. Teachers will also benefit from receiving follow-up activities to use after the program ends. All activity materials are prepared by New York Ag in the Classroom and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. Each school will receive a free copy of the book to be donated to the school library with a bookplate recognizing the donors and New York Ag in the Classroom.
To sign your school up for Ag Literacy Week, please fill out the PDF School Sign up Form and return it to the contact for this page by email, fax, or mail, or fill out the NEW Online School Sign Up Form by February 24th. This gives our office enough time to coordinate volunteers.
Online School Sign up Form: 2025 Ag Literacy Week School Sign up Online Form
Fillable PDF Sign up Form: 2025 School Sign up form PDF
Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau. Its mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how we produce food and fiber, what we eat, and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems.
Contributing nearly $2.4 billion to the state gross domestic product and covering approximately 7.3 million acres, agriculture is vital to New York State. The New York Agriculture in the Classroom Program is excited to feature a book that displays the unique markets and diversity that encompasses many aspects of New York's agriculture while also focusing on food production and how consumers contribute to agriculture.
Josephine Laurie
4-H Educator
jla298@cornell.edu
716-664-9502 Ext 216
Last updated December 17, 2024