At Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC), we recognize the vital role our investors play in helping students across Minnesota discover the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. For more than 35 years, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has stood as a dedicated and trusted partner in our shared mission to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education.
This enduring partnership has provided students and educators with access to meaningful agricultural experiences and high-quality educational resources—resources that continue to cultivate curiosity, inspire learning, and build a deeper understanding of how agriculture shapes our world.
Fostering Access to MAITC Resources
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation provides ongoing opportunities for MAITC to share educational resources with both formal and informal educators. One such opportunity takes place at the annual LEAP (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Promotion) Conference, hosted by the MFBF.
Each year, MAITC is invited to lead a hands-on Resource Course. At the 2025 conference, the session featured tools like the AgCentric Career Wheel and classroom-ready lessons aligned with Minnesota education standards. Attendees left equipped with practical resources to promote agricultural literacy in schools and communities alike.
But LEAP is just one example. Through their widespread engagement with educators, community members, and agricultural leaders across Minnesota, MFBF consistently helps amplify MAITC’s reach, ensuring more individuals are connected to the free tools, lessons, and support we offer.
Why the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Supports MAITC
Rooted in the agricultural and rural values that define Minnesota’s communities, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation has long believed in the importance of helping students understand where their food, fiber, fuel and natural resources come from. Through their support of MAITC, they help bring agriculture into focus as a relevant, real-world context for learning—reaching future voters, consumers, and leaders.
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Dan Glessing shared, “Minnesota Farm Bureau is proud to support Minnesota Ag in the Classroom and its outreach efforts. One of our primary goals is to strengthen agricultural literacy and understanding in communities across the state. By working with Minnesota Ag in the Classroom, we can empower educators and students with knowledge and understanding of where their food, fiber and fuel comes from, cultivating a generation that values the role of agriculture in their daily lives.”
A Message from the MAITC Foundation
“The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation has been a long-standing champion of agricultural literacy,” says Ann Marie Ward, Executive Director of the MAITC Foundation. “They not only invest in our work, but they create spaces—like the LEAP Conference—where educators and ag leaders can explore and adopt MAITC resources. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and the impact they continue to make.”
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF)’s more than 35 years of partnership, we honor the legacy of collaboration that fuels our mission. Their continued investment helps us reach more classrooms, connect with more educators, and cultivate a society where agriculture is valued by all.
We are thankful for the MFBF—and all of our partners—who make this important work possible. Together, we are building a brighter, more agriculturally literate future for Minnesota.