The James River FFA partnered with the Botetourt County Women’s Committee on March 19 to facilitate Agriculture in the Classroom. FFA members and officers read “Right This Very Minute,” a book centered around farm to table agriculture, to over 80 elementary school students from Buchanan and Cloverdale Elementary Schools.
As a part of Agriculture Literacy Week, Farm Bureau Committees from across the nation set out to educate youth about where their food comes from. In Botetourt County, Emily Bryant coordinates the event for all elementary schools in the county. She works to involve local community members, FFA chapters, and Farm Bureau constituents in the volunteer reading process.
From James River High School, Bailey Marshall took the lead on organizing the event for Buchanan and Cloverdale Elementary Schools. FFA members Morgan Marshall, Jacob Fowler, and Mackenzie Blake, along with FFA officers Bailey Marshall, Jeffrey Bower and Peyton Reese read to 15 first graders and 21 kindergarteners from Cloverdale, as well as 31 first graders and 15 kindergartners from Buchanan. The students enjoyed reading along with the high schoolers and viewing the colorful illustrations while they learned about agriculture, Marshall said.