Hillsborough County Farm Bureau

Ag-Venture is hosted 3 times a year in Hillsborough County. There are 2 sessions for 3rd graders which includes 8 days in the Spring and 8 days in the Fall. These Ag-Venture sessions are hosted in partnership with the Florida State Fair and the Hillsborough County Extension Service. During each of these sessions, over 3,000 3rd grade students experience Ag-Venture. The third session is hosted by HCFB during the Florida State Fair. During a 12 day period, over 50,000 fair attendees receive agriculture education and complete hands on activities related to the agriculture industry.

In conjunction with ESE teachers in Hillsborough county, we have developed an Ag-Abilities program. This program is designed to give students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in regular agriculture competitions. This year they participated in plant identification, tractor driving, nutrition, and breed identification. We have distributed the program nationwide to teachers looking for alternative competitions for ESE students. The program is still growing and teachers are assisting again this year updating the curriculum.

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau works very closely with Florida Ag In the Classroom. HCFB Womens Committee and YFR members participate in Ag Literacy Day annually, sharing the story with as many classrooms in Hillsborough County as possible. During our Ag-Venture sessions we also share a copy of the Ag Literacy Day book with teachers, and information on accessing the Florida Ag In the Classroom website and resources in their teacher packets. The teacher packets contain activity sheets, vocabulary words and other resources related the stations in which the students participated in.