WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – April 9, 2025 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) is excited to announce a new series of professional development workshops designed specifically for Iowa educators. These dynamic workshops aim to enhance educators’ skills in integrating agricultural concepts into their curriculum. 

Throughout the summer, educators across the state will have the opportunity to attend engaging two-day workshops hosted at various locations statewide. These workshops, facilitated by IALF, will showcase how agriculture can serve as a rich, real-world context for teaching core subjects like science, social studies, language arts, and math using concepts that are tied to Iowa Core Standards.  

“Participants will walk away with hands-on strategies, classroom-ready lessons, and valuable resources they can put to use immediately,” said Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director. “We want to inspire teachers to engage students in meaningful learning through the lens of agriculture.” 

Each workshop includes on-site experience, such as farm or agribusiness tours, paired with a day of practical, classroom-focused application. All workshops are free to attend, with optional license renewal and graduate-level credit available for an added fee.  

Workshop Dates and Locations 

  • June 9-10, Independence, Iowa; Adventures Through Agriculture 
  • June 12-13, Albia, Iowa; Agriculture is All-Encompassing 
  • June 18-19, Eldridge, Iowa; Conservation and Technology in Agriculture 
  • July 1-2, West Des Moines, Iowa; The Science of Food Preservation 
  • July 14-15, Peosta, Iowa; The Science of Food and Processing Agricultural Products 
  • August 5-6, Wall Lake, Iowa; The Science of Specialty Agriculture in Western Iowa 

To learn more and register, visit https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/tools-resources/general/professional-development. 

These workshops are made possible thanks to the generous support of IALF’s partners, including the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, GROWMARK, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Turkey Federation, and Corteva Agriscience. 

Media Note: Photos are available for download here: https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/Article/Cultivating-Iowa-Classroom-Connections-AgFocused-PD-Workshops-Return-this-Summer

CONTACT: Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director , KFoss@IowaAgLiteracy.org, 515-331-4182