OREGON, Ill.— The University of Illinois Extension serving Ogle and Carroll counties has received a generous $1,000 donation from CHS Rochelle to support the Ag in the Classroom (AITC) program. The contribution will help expand agricultural education opportunities for local students and educators. Melinda Colbert, AITC program coordinator, accepted the donation during a check presentation ceremony. This program provides free lessons, activities, and resources to schools and teachers connecting agriculture to their school curriculum.
Ag in the Classroom is a statewide initiative that offers engaging, curriculum-aligned lessons to students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The program aims to deepen understanding of agriculture’s vital role in society and the economy. Locally, AITC is delivered through the University of Illinois Extension Ogle County in collaboration with the Ogle County Farm Bureau and Carroll County Farm Bureau.
“Supporting agricultural education and investing in our youth is one of the many ways we live out our commitment to stewardship in the communities where we live and work,” said Samantha Zaccaria of CHS Rochelle.
The donation will help ensure that teachers and schools in Ogle and Carroll counties continue to have access to free educational materials, hands-on activities, and classroom visits that bring agriculture to life.
PHOTO: Ag in the Classroom Program Coordinator, Melinda Colbert accepts CHS Rochelle's donation check. L to R: Mark Zaccaria, CHS; Melinda Colbert, U of I Extension AITC program coordinator; Samantha Zaccaria, CHS; and Josh Brandau, CHS.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.