Farm bureau book barns help students learn about agriculture
Young readers’ books with agricultural subject matter have made their way into more than 60 elementary schools in Delaware.
Through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant made available to the Delaware Farm Bureau, the program has stocked the schools with handcrafted book barns and agriculturally accurate books since 2015.
The barns were crafted by New Castle County farmer Jimmy Correll, Smyrna FFA members and Gene Hartnett.
The books highlight the relationships among agriculture and the environment, food, fiber and energy, animals, lifestyle, the economy and technology, according to the American Farm Bureau Foundation.
Book barns can be dropped off or delivered to schools with an in-person or virtual presentation.
Delaware public schools interested in a book barn can contact the Delaware Farm Bureau office at 302-697-3183.
Sussex County elementary schools with book barns in place include H.O. Brittingham, Milton, Love Creek, Rehoboth and Richard A. Shields in the Cape Henlopen district; Georgetown, Lord Baltimore, North Georgetown and Phillip C. Showell in the Indian River district; Benjamin Banneker, Mispillion, Morris Early Childhood Center and Lulu Ross in the Milford district; Frederick Douglass, Seaford Central and West Seaford in the Seaford district; and Phillis Wheatley in the Woodbridge district.
