2025 Agriculture Literacy Week Successful

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (April 3, 2025) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture program is dedicated to giving the public the opportunity to learn about and interact with our food system. In celebration of National Ag Week (March 17-21st), schools in the area were invited to participate in New York’s Agricultural Literacy Week, organized statewide by New York Agriculture in the Classroom and coordinated locally by CCE Chautauqua.

This year, over 3,600 students at 27 different early education and elementary schools enjoyed listening to volunteers read “The Pie that Molly Grew,” written by Sue Heavenrich. The story is about a young girl who follows the journey of bringing a pumpkin to harvest, which in the end she turns her lovely pumpkin into a delicious pie for her family and friends to enjoy. Volunteer readers also helped students learn about the growth of a pumpkin from the seed to mature pumpkin with a paper lifecycle activity.

Pumpkin production is a large industry in New York, with total acres of pumpkins harvested at 4,577 acres (2022 Agriculture Census). Youth who are connected to local and state agriculture understand how their food is produced, which helps them to become more informed consumers. One volunteer said “[They students] had lots of interest in growing plants and about bees, pollination, and great questions about it all.” Another volunteer commented “[The students] talked about “sow” means to plant, that Agriculture Literacy Week is about reading, and understanding things related to farming.”

This program would not be possible without the 17 donors and the dedication of 60 volunteers who spent their time reading to students, answering questions, and promoting agriculture. The volunteers also included many of Chautauqua Counties local and state level officials. One teacher from Jamestown Public Schools said “[The readers] were just fantastic: Engaging, patient, and passionate about why they volunteer to participate with the program… It is so, so good for our students!”

CCE Chautauqua would like to thank all the volunteers and donors who made this program possible. This year’s donors include Alyssa Porter, Autumn Gregory, Ben & Danielle Moss, Butternut Brook Livestock- Michael & Shannon Carpenter, Dianne “Dinah” Hovey, Doug & Sue Harper, Farm Credit East, Janet Forbes In Loving Memory of James Forbes, John & Carol Hardenburg, John Penhollow, Linda Prechtl, Pierre & Judy Chagnon, Richard & Janice Jozwiak, The Bakers, The Village of Sherman, an anonymous donor, and an anonymous reader that donated for other young readers.

The Agriculture Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. 

Last updated April 18, 2025