Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket Educator Workshop

Join GrowNYC and New York Agriculture in the Classroom on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, for an opportunity to explore the New York City agri-food system. This workshop will be from 9am - 1pm and a portion of it will take place outside. In this workshop, K-12 teachers are invited to tour the Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket, visit with producers to understand their role in our agri-food system, experience a cooking demonstration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, and engage in a hands-on lesson demonstration using the Agriculture in the Classroom curriculum matrix. This workshop offers 4 CTLE hours.

Mac & Cheese Challenge

The Mac & Cheese Challenge was designed to allow students to learn more about the dairy industry while also exploring their creativity and senses. Students will develop a unique macaroni and cheese recipe, create imaginative marketing for their macaroni and cheese, and submit their recipe for a chance to win $250 and a cheesemaking kit, valued at $125, for their classroom.

Registered classrooms are also eligible for reimbursement of up to $50 for cooking supplies and food supplies. If you are registering more than one class (multiple periods) you are eligible for an additional $25 in reimbursed supplies and ingredients for each class.

Updated Contest Format for Top Cut Beef Experience

The Top Cut: Beef Contest is an engaging cross-curricular educational and culinary experience for grades 6-12. Participating students will design a beef recipe focused on the theme of school lunch and then develop a creative marketing strategy for their product. New York Agriculture in the Classroom and New York Beef Council are excited to offer this contest for the seventh year. 

NEW! New this year is an updated contest format. The Top Cut Beef Experience will be offered in both the fall and spring so that teachers with classes that switch out each semester may participate with all of their classes. The contest will no longer require pre-registration to participate and each teacher that has students submit a completed entry will receive a prize for their classroom.

Schoolyard Sugaring Contest: Identifying Maple Trees

The Schoolyard Sugaring Maple and Photography Contest will return for its eighth year in late winter 2025 with registration opening in early December. For students and educators who would like to tap into this annual contest, fall is a great time to identify maple trees. The magnificent orange and red hues are the first clue a tree is in the Acer family. To identify the different maple species, one must take a closer look at their leaves. 

Visit our website to learn more about identifying maple trees. More resources can be found in the "Lesson Connections" section.

Growing Talent for Agriculture!

Ambassador Scholars are young adults—18 to 25—who are passionate about agriculture and food. Whether in college or newly employed, they are eager to engage with supply chain decision-makers, dive into priority issues, and build hard business skills and a professional network. Competitively selected, Ambassadors participate in the NYS Agricultural Society’s Annual Forum in January – arguably the oldest and largest event of its kind in the US and participate in a Summer Leadership Experience (SLE) within the diverse NYS ag and food industry. Participants can choose to re-apply for a Year 2 experience. Apply by October 15, 2023.

NYCAMH Farm Safety Art Contest

This contest is a chance for students across New York State to bring a safety message to life in their artwork. This year's topic, "High Visibility: Be Safe by Being Seen," is related to making yourself visible when working around equipment or on rural roadways or making your equipment more visible on the road. Students are welcome to create both print and digital designs, and awards will be given in three age categories for both mediums.

Contact Christina Day at christina.day@bassett.org or 607-547-6023 with any questions or to request an accompanying 30-minute virtual lesson for your group or class on the topic.