Programs and Reach
Colorado Reader
Grades 3-5 An 8-page student activity newspaper geared towards upper elementary students , and also used by middle and high school teachers . Each issue covers a different agriculture or natural resource topic and is provided free of charge . At least four issues are published each school year and are directly mailed to 1,675 classrooms in both urban and rural communities across Colorado , representing 730 schools , organizations , and CSU Extension offices . Each issue of the Colorado Reader is also published in a digital flip-book format , available in the CFA Digital Library .
Topics for 2022-2023 :
• Colorado Potatoes
• Colorado Dairy Production
• Water
• Colorado Beef
Reach ( per issue ):
• 60,000 students
• 1,275 teachers and informal educators
• 250 average digital flip-book views per issue
Summer AgriCULTURE Institute
Educators Five-day professional development courses designed for teachers . Attendees learn about Colorado agriculture , tour farms , ranches , and food production facilities , and learn innovative , standards-based ways to incorporate food , fiber , fuel , and natural resource topics into academic curriculum . Two courses are offered each summer in different locations across Colorado .
2023 Locations : Durango and Denver , both held in July
Colorado Literacy Project Grades PreK-5 In the spring , farmers and ranchers visit classrooms - either in-person or virtually - and read a book about agriculture . They answer questions , talk about their connection to agriculture , and do an activity with the students . At the end of the visit , the book is donated to the school . CFA has teamed up with agricultural journalist and children ’ s book author Rachel Gabel to publish new books for this program based on true-life Colorado agriculture stories .
Book for 2023 : The Woolly Way , a multi-generational story of sheep grazing in Colorado forests .
2022 Project Reach : 10,000 + students ; 500 + classes
Activity Books
Grades 3-8 Designed to increase the level of understanding of a particular topic , each book varies in length ranging from 24 to 72 pages and can be taught over multiple class periods . They include a variety of reading and activity pages to make learning fun ! The Activity Books are available in print and via digital flip-book in the CFA Digital Library .
Available Activity Books :
• Wool and Sheep - print and digital
• Understanding Water - print and digital
• Cattle in Colorado History - print and digital
• Watershed Defenders Comic Book - print and digital
• Incredible , Edible Eggs Math Book - digital only
• Wildlife - digital only
Reach ( combined annual totals ):
• Approximately 8,000 + copies distributed annually
• 450 total annual digital flip-book views [ 1,860 combined total views ]
Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom • 10343 Federal Blvd Unit J Box 224 • Westminster , CO 80260 • Info @ GrowingYourFuture . com • 970-818-3308