The Wapello County Farm Bureau has wrapped up another successful year of its Ag in the Classroom program, completing 146 classroom visits across multiple schools in the Ottumwa area during the 2025-2026 school year, according to a press release from the organization.
The program, designed to help students understand the role agriculture plays in their daily lives, reached students at Ottumwa Christian School, Cardinal Elementary School, Cardinal High School, and four Ottumwa Community School District elementary schools — Horace Mann, Eisenhower, Wilson, and Fahrney. In total, the program generated more than 4,018 student impressions and 498 adult impressions from June 2025 through May 2026. Seven library programs and five Ag Day or educational events were also conducted throughout the year.
Lessons were tailored to each age group. Elementary students participated in a bi-monthly format, with one month featuring a video from a Wapello County Farm Bureau board member and the following month including an interactive activity that expanded on the topic. Topics covered at the elementary level included flowers, corn, sheep, cattle, and pigs. High school students participated in monthly lessons covering a new agricultural topic each month, including agricultural careers, the origins of everyday products, dairy cattle, flowers, meat cuts, watersheds, soil morphology, and factors that affect a country’s ability to produce its own food.
The program served third- and fourth-grade students at Ottumwa Christian School, one second-grade and three third-grade classrooms at Cardinal Elementary, one eleventh-grade classroom at Cardinal High School, and 14 third-grade classrooms across the Ottumwa Community School District.
The Wapello County Farm Bureau thanked the schools, educators, volunteers, board members, and community partners who contributed to the program’s success. “The commitment to agricultural literacy continues to make a meaningful impact on local students by fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the agricultural industry,” the organization said, adding that it looks forward to continuing the program in the years to come and inspiring future generations to understand and value agriculture. Those interested in learning more or getting involved can contact the Wapello County Farm Bureau at Wapello.County@ifbf.org.
