Future Plans

Howdy! I'm happy to announce that thanks to some helpful folks within the Animal Science department at Texas A&M University I have been able to create a schedule for next year that will allow me to continue to present Ag After School for the 2015-2016 school year! While I am excited that the program has the potential to continue, we (the entire group of students here with the Allen FFA) still need the continued support of Allen ISD faculty and parents to get it on your school's calendar. I hope that we will be visiting your school soon, and teaching your kids essential facts about the growing world that they live in!

Spreading the Word

Recently Allen High School's student magazine published a short article about my, Brittney Borserine's, FLS Project Ag After School. 

If you're interested in reading the article visit the link below.

http://issuu.com/callieanderson7/docs/allendecember?e=0/10816376

Each time our Ag Program and the FFA have the opportunity to break into any forum of public media, we get one step closer to truly informing the urban public about what the agricultural industry is all about.

Ford Scholar Banquet

Last Thursday, January 8, the Texas FFA Ford Leadership Scholars had our banquet to celebrate the completion of our time as active scholars. Prior to the dinner portion of our banquet the 9 scholars presented their projects to those who aided in their training. It was my pleasure to share with the industry leaders present about Ag After School. I'm so grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves because of this program and the kids I got to teach. 

Pictured above: showcasing Ag After School to Mrs. Lauren Tye, an FLS Trainer and 2014 Excell award winner. 

Pictured Above: Presenting Mrs. Nancy Minchillo, alongside 2014-2015 Tx FFA State President Gracie Hendrick, with her Texas Ford Leadership Scholar Commemoritive Clock for her time as an FLS mentor. 

Pictured above: Brittney Borserine receiving her certificate of completion of the Ford Leadership Scholar program. 

Barn Tour Information

                                      

Marion Elementary

Yesterday we attended Marion Elementary in Allen, TX, while we didn't have the biggest turn out, these kids were great and excited to be there! We did the same activities as the day before, but as always with new kids there are new ideas and new topics to discuss. However today we were accompanied by the giant French Lop rabbit named Max (pictured in the last photo below)! Max was a superstar and loved getting to play with our kiddos!

Thank you to all of the kids who attended Marion's Ag After School, as well as our Ag After School volunteers!

Brittney (me) explains the differences between agricultural products, bi-products, and artificially made items

Students working on their real life Mr. Potato head men

From left to right: Lincoln Engstrom, Sabrina Engstrom, Will Norton, Brittney Borserine, and Emily Yager.

Chandler Elementary

Today marks our very first presentation of Ag After School!!! We presented at Chandler Elementary in Allen, TX and had a blast!! Thank you so much to all of our participants and volunteers! During our presentation we discussed a few things including:

• What is agriculture?
• What are products made from agriculture, and what are some that are not?
• Agricultural professions
• Veterinarians, including how they can help the vet while at the clinic, some animals that they care for, and what they can do (not all just dogs and cats)
• Potato crops and grass (crop nourishment) 

After we talked about crop nourishment we made real life Mr. Potato heads! Each of the kids had a mason jar for their Mr.P, they started off with a full potato then we dug our a little hole in the head. After that they drew on faces, and glued on googlie eyes, once their faces were complete we knew they needed hair! Using wet cotton balls as their water source we soaked some grass seed and imputed it into the hole in the potato! Once his body was done, using toothpicks and popsicle sticks, the Mr. P's were given arms and legs then put to stand in the mason jars! 

The kids had a great time and are extremely excited for our Barn Tour, taking place November 1st at our Allen FFA project center! Below are pictures from our afternoon at Chandler Elementary

Brittney (me) and Olivia T. prepping potatoes for Chandler Elementary presentation of Ag After School

 Brittney B (me) and Oliva T getting goodie bags ready for Chandler Elementary presentation 

Volunteers listed from left to right: Jordan Nickal (Allen FFA sentinel), Luke Fox (Allen FFA President), Brittney Borserine (Ford Scholar, District V Pres., Allen FFA VP), Olivia T (member of Allen FFA)

Listed from left to right:
Top Row-Luke F, Olivia T, Kaitlyn Packer, Brittney B, Kyle McCord, Jordan N
Bottom Row- Jacob Brasher,  John Garza, Amayia Taylor, Angelique Bloodworth, Cody Weinman,  McKenna Gilbow

John G, Amayia T, Jacob B, Brittney B, Angelique B, Cody W,, McKenna G

Busy Work Day

Thanks to all of our helpers working on the Ag After School program for coming together and helping us get 800 brochures printed and folded for distribution! We wouldn't be able to accomplish much without all of our helpful hands! Chandler and Marion Elementary School students be looking out for your opportunity to sign up for Ag After School soon!