9th Annual Ag Literacy Week March 18-22

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (February 28, 2024) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is continually working to increase public awareness of the great things happening in agriculture. As part of this effort, CCE-Chautauqua is proud to facilitate the Agricultural Literacy Week initiative for Chautauqua County again, thanks to generous community sponsors.

In celebration of National Agriculture Week (March 18th-22nd), area elementary students are able to participate in the New York Agricultural Literacy Week, locally coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. This year, over 2,500 Chautauqua County Elementary students have the opportunity to participate in learning about strawberries with a fun agricultural related book and activity.

The book selected for the 2024 Agricultural Literacy Week program is I LOVE Strawberries by Shannon Anderson. I LOVE Strawberries showcases how students can take part in agriculture, no matter the scale. This story follows the seedling-to-table journey of growing strawberries, as told through the point of view of Jolie, a young girl determined to prove that she is responsible enough to care for the perennial plant.

This program would not be possible without generous donations from local businesses, farmers, and community members throughout Chautauqua County. Current donors of this program include Farm Credit East, Olde Chautauqua Farms, John Hemmer, Jim and Rosie Joy of JM Joy Farms, Janet Forbes in memory of James Forbes, Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, John and Carol Hardenburg, Michael and Shannon Carpenter of Butternut Brook Livestock, Dan Smith, Jay Baker of Jamestown Plastics, and the Jamestown Garden Club. With the funds, the CCE-Chautauqua Agriculture program is able to purchase books to donate to the school’s library and activity materials to engage students in the learning process.

Many groups and individuals also donate their time to be volunteer readers, another crucial part to the success of the program. Volunteer readers Sharon Reed and Mary Lissfelt, of the Jamestown Garden Club, are volunteering to read at an elementary school in Jamestown. Their participation in the program fits well with their club mission, “to stimulate an interest in gardening”, and “study our native trees, plants and birds”, all of which students will see in this year’s chosen book.

CCE Chautauqua is still looking for volunteer readers. If you would like to read to a school in your area, please reach out to Josie Allen, 4-H Development Educator, at jla298@cornell.edu or by calling our office at 716-664-9502.

Photo Caption: The Jamestown Garden Club president, Sharon Reed presented a donation to Josie Allen, the Ag Literacy coordinator in support of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag Literacy Program.

The Ag Literacy 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. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

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Last updated February 28, 2024