Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher works with Tulley Elementary 1st-graders Amelia Peoples, from left, and DJ Chackles while they learn about chicks. Photo by Fiona Morgan, Kentucky Department of Education, March 16, 2026
(LOUISVILLE, KY) – Schools around Kentucky focused on agriculture during the spring All In for Ag Education Week, which was held March 16-20.
One class at Tulley Elementary School (Jefferson County) taught students about chickens and raising chicks. They even got to help incubate chicks and grow food in the school’s garden.
Amelia Peoples, a 1st-grader in the class, said she enjoys learning about the chicks.
“I liked learning how feathers and beaks help them survive in their life cycle,” Peoples said.
All In for Ag Education Week is a biannual initiative to help teachers bring agriculture lessons into their regular classrooms. It began in 2025 when the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) joined forces with Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to put together agriculture education resources.
Schools around the state are encouraged to take their students on field trips, bring in guest speakers and use the many classroom resources available on the All In for Ag Education Week website.
Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said the initiative allows schools to give students knowledge of careers that are available through agriculture, such as equipment suppliers or drone operators. He said learning about agriculture also can translate into other careers, like being a scientist, economist or business leader.
“Ag Education Week gives students the opportunity to see the impact of agriculture at the high school level for pathways, middle school level for exploration, and the elementary level for exposure and introduction,” Fletcher said during a press conference at Tulley Elementary School kicking off the event. “I believe the best tool we have in our toolkit for chronic absenteeism … is vibrant learning; that’s learning that is important, that is relevant, that is joyful to our students. What better vibrant learning opportunity can we have than having the connection with agriculture?”
In addition to classroom agriculture experiences, this year students also participated in a book contest to craft a story centered around dairy farmers caring for their cows. The example students looked at is a book written and illustrated by two Kentucky students called “Millie’s Farm Day.”
Written by Ayla Tolentino, an 8th-grader at Bondurant Middle School (Franklin County), and illustrated by Blakely Beth Callahan, a junior at South Laurel High School (Laurel County), the book follows the day in the life of farmer, Kenzie, as seen through the eyes of a dairy calf named Millie.
As part of Agriculture Education Week, “Millie’s Farm Day” was distributed to elementary schools across the state to add to their school libraries. On March 16 at Tulley Elementary, a 3rd-grade class got to read this book and watch a video made by the authors.
Students learned how farmers take care of their cows. Then, they watched a video demonstration of how the book’s illustrator, Blakely Beth Callahan, draws cows.
While drawing a cow, 3rd-grader Eli Montgomery said he was surprised at how much care and attention cows need.
“I learned that sometimes farmers will hook cows up to a machine to get the milk and they have to clean their beds because no one wants to lay on a dirty bed, and they need space outside to rest and roam and play around,” Montgomery said.
During a press conference at Tulley Elementary School on March 16, Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood said studying agriculture can help students learn valuable life skills such as team building and leadership.
“Urban agriculture is hands-on education at its best. It connects science, technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship in ways that a traditional classroom alone cannot do,” Yearwood said. “Our students are graduating with real technical skills, industry certification that prepares them for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s economy.”
Highland Middle School 7th-grade consumer science students, from left, Natalie Martinez, Brooklyn Wright and Peyton Dietrich talk to Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher about what they learned. Photo by Fiona Morgan, Kentucky Department of Education, March 16, 2026
At Highland Middle School (Jefferson County) on March 16, state leaders also got to see different classes that teach students about agriculture.
In one class, students take care of small animals such as chickens, rabbits and quails. In the school’s culinary class, students learn to prepare quail eggs for consumption, along with the meat from animals they raise.
Rhys Armstrong, a 7th-grader in the culinary class, enjoys cooking many different things but has never tried preparing rabbit meat.
“What I’m really excited to make is rabbit. We’re going to be making rabbit later in the year because my other teacher is raising rabbits,” Armstrong said.
During a consumer science management class, students were taught to work within a budget. Students worked on their budgets to learn to stay within $1,000 for a month.
Class member Peyton Dietrich, a 7th-grader, said she found it interesting how the class lesson translates into learning about life skills.
“I learned that if you manage your time very well, you can succeed in life. And if you value your habits and try to get better, you can get good jobs and chase your dream,” Dietrich said.
The fall All In for Ag Education Week will be Sept. 21-25.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to clarify and correct details about Highland Middle School’s agriculture classes.
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