The Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC) is announcing its first-ever summer conference for Kansas teachers. The one-day event is being held on June 2, at the Salina Bicentennial center and is open to all Kansas teachers, volunteers, out-of-school program coordinators and those interested in agriculture education.
The “Creating the Best Day Ever” conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Monte Selby, a Kansas native, passionate educator and musician. Selby will use humor, interaction, a bit of research and his critically acclaimed original music to explore the importance of creating a vision for a “Best Day Ever.”
Local Kansas celebrities, the Peterson Farm Brothers, will also keynote the lunch session. These brothers will share their passion for agriculture, the importance of educating youth about where their food comes from and share some of their most popular parodies.
In addition to keynote presentations, the conference will feature hands-on workshops presented by teachers from across the state that have successfully made agriculture a core part of their curriculum. Topics will range from plant science to animal science and will give attendees the opportunity to build their confidence in including agriculture in their own curriculum.
“The caliber of teachers we have in Kansas is second to none,” said Cathy Musick, KFAC executive director. “We are fortunate to have them present these interactive workshops at our conference and look forward to the inspiration they’ll provide attendees.”
The conference is sponsored by several generous donors, including Chuck Henry Sales of Salina, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Beef Council, Kansas Pork Association and the Kansas Dairy Commission. Those interested in supporting the event are asked to email KFAC at ksfac@ksu.edu or call the office at (785) 320-4350.
Registration for the conference will close May 19. Regular registration cost is $65 until April 18, and will increase to $75 on April 19. Registration cost includes lunch, all snacks and resources. Scholarships to cover registration cost are available through a memorial contribution in honor of longtime KFAC supporter, Harold Mertz of Zeandale. Applications are due April 15, and can be found on the KFAC website. Teachers will receive professional development credits and will also have the option to purchase continuing education credits through Kansas State University for an additional $25. Scholarships to cover registration cost are available
To register, visit https://outreach.ksu.edu/etrakWebApp/Registration.aspx?MeetingCode=261606. Additional conference information including hotel information, conference venue and agenda, can be found on the KFAC website at www.ksagclassroom.org/teachers/summerconference. For more information, contact the KFAC office at (785) 320-4350 or ksfac@ksu.edu.