How My American Farm Grows Opportunity
A Guest Blog Post by Bill Belzer, Corteva Agriscience tm Farmers have long understood that developing a community based in mutual cooperation lays the foundation for their own success. They know that if everyone does well, they will do well. Now, in the digital age, we have new ways to connect, and new ways to build community. But the core principle still holds true, a rising tide lifts all boats. That 's one of many reasons why Corteva supports agricultural education through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the My American Farm platform.
A Guest Blog Post by
Bill Belzer, Corteva Agriscience tm
Farmers have long understood that developing a community based in mutual cooperation lays the foundation for their own success. They know that if everyone does well, they will do well. Now, in the digital age, we have new ways to connect, and new ways to build community. But the core principle still holds true, a rising tide lifts all boats. That’s one of many reasons why Corteva supports agricultural education through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the My American Farm platform.
MyAmericanFarm.com launched nine years ago and it’s been growing steadily ever since. It’s an educational website and kiosk, with ag learning materials for pre-K through fifth grade students. The content is created by professional educators, and it strives to be as accurate as possible while using an engaging format by delivering content through games, eComics and other fun stuff to keep young learners coming back. The platform is available online, and it can also operate in “kiosk mode” where it always makes a big splash at educational events and festivals. An important feature of the platform is My American Farm’s scalability and reach, allowing other agricultural businesses to leverage the platform and create their educational items/tools/games relevant to their brand and the part of the agriculture value chain they serve.
My American Farm is a modular platform that’s easy to plug into. At the base level, an organization might want to develop one game with an accompanying learning guide. Earlier this year, The National Auctioneers Association did just that with the “Auction Adventures” game – which helps to teach math skills and introduce young people to the Auction industry. There’s also the opportunity to engage at a much more robust level. In 2015, The Beef Checkoff Program teamed up with My American Farm to launch “The Steaks are High” – an educational game about the beef production process. Since then, the project has grown to include a large compliment of educational resources, videos, downloads and in-the-field programs.
Corteva supports agricultural education through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the My American Farm platform. When multiple organizations contribute to the platform it increases the breadth and depth and reach and we all benefit.
We need to ensure that the next generation is well informed about where their food comes from, and that they have the facts about production agriculture to be informed consumers. Also, building interest in agriculture and life sciences among young learners will hopefully lead them to pursue future careers in ag science, ag engineering and ag production. Focusing on youth is a smart long-term strategy to ensure the continued development of talent for agricultural businesses at large.
At Corteva Agriscience tm we’re very aware of the interconnectedness of agriculture, the importance of agricultural literacy to the entire value chain and the great story we have to tell. By working together to educate young people who are future consumers and employees, we all benefit regardless of where we sit…farmers, input providers, processers and beyond.This is why we have invested in the My American Farm platform to provide a foundation that is relevant, accurate and has plenty of room for others to participate. When multiple organizations contribute to the platform it increases the breadth and depth and reach and we all benefit.
When we were developing My American Farm with the Ag Foundation we quickly learned that we were working with a partner who brought two wonderful elements to the table: innovation and aptitude. The project started with big picture thinking, to which the Foundation applied insightful ideas and innovative approaches. As we moved into deployment, the organization was able to leverage a network of national, state and local volunteers and assets to help get the resource into the field and share the awesome story of modern agriculture.
Year after year traffic has been growing on the My American Farm Website, and the kiosk is showcased at dozens of events every year. The most exciting part is that the platform is expanding through partnerships with different organizations. It’s an important project that helps to enrich the lives of both consumers and producers. We very much encourage you to participate. If you’d like to learn more about positive growth with My American Farm and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, please visit our recently launched engagement opportunities website.
A Note From The Foundation
Bill’s wonderful story illustrates how engagement with the Foundation can lead to positive growth in the community. We offer many cooperative engagement opportunities for businesses and organizations of all sizes. We encourage you to learn more about positive growth with the AFBFA.
