Alachua County 4-H brings agricultural education to life in local classrooms

Press release from UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Over the past two weeks, over 700 students in over 45 classrooms participated in Ag Literacy Day, where 4-H staff and volunteers provided educational resources about peanuts and cotton, two of Florida’s agricultural commodities. Participating schools included Archer, Talbot, Wiles, Shell, Norton, Newberry, Idylwild, and High Springs Community School.

“I love this program in particular because ag is such a big part of our community and our economy, and this is just one step in helping get kids interested in understanding where their food comes from,” says Mary Lee Sale, 4-H Extension Agent.

Each year, Alachua County 4-H delivers Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s Ag Literacy Day program to elementary schools all across the county to help teach youth about our local agriculture industry. This program provides activity sheets to every student as well as classroom copies of the book, and 4-H provides the volunteer readers who spend time reading to students and teaching about each crop.

Ag Literacy Day is one of many 4-H In School programs available to teachers throughout Alachua County. Other programs include Embryology, School Gardens, All About Snakes, Public Speaking, and multiple environmental education activities. These programs are free to all teachers in the county. In 2025, over 4,000 students benefited from 4-H In School programming in Alachua County.

“These programs are a fun way to engage students in learning and help supplement what teachers do in their classrooms,” says Jesse Price, 4-H In School Program Coordinator. “I love that I get to share my passion for animals and nature with students who are excited to learn about them.”

For more information about 4-H In School or 4-H community programs, teachers and parents can contact the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County office at 352-955-2402 or visit https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/alachua/4-h-youth-development/4-h-topics/