We're excited to announce our 2026 IAITC Teacher of the Year -- Erikka Coletta!
Pictured below L to R: Annemarie Cain, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Manager; Diane Cleland, Winnebago-Boone Ag in the Classroom; Award Winner Mrs. Coletta; Kevin Daugherty, IAITC.
The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) program is pleased to announce the 2026 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, Erikka Coletta, Librarian/Interventionist of Maple Elementary School, Harlem CUSD 122, Loves Park, Winnebago County, Illinois. Coletta will be recognized at the 2025 Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Chicago and will receive a trip to the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. She will also be the Illinois nominee for the USDA National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award.
Congratulations to our 2026 IAITC Administrator of the Year! Meet Karen Jones, Principal of St. Mary’s School in Pontiac, Livingston County. Mrs. Jones is known for her “What is happening on the farm today…” moments in addition to the support she gives to students, staff and the county AITC program. Congratulations Mrs. Jones! IAA Foundation Livingston County Farm Bureau @ Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District
Pictured L to R: Chris Bunting, Livingston CFB; Kevin Daugherty ,IAITC;Mrs. Jones, Award winner; Debbie Ruff, Livingston SWCD/AITC.
IAITC is proud to annouce our 2026 Teacher of the Year Runner Up!
Erin Parks, Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2, Stonefort, Saline County! A sixth-grade teacher, she has inspired countless students with her passion for learning during her teaching career. Parks looks for ways to integrate agriculture on a daily basis in her cross-curricular teaching assignment. Mrs. Parks will be our 2026 nominee for the AFBF White Reinhart Award! Congratulations Mrs. Parks!
Pictured L to R: Maridy Tso, Saline AITC; Kevin Daugherty, IAITC; Erin Parks, Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2, Raegan Smith, Saline AITC, Lucy Peterson, Saline County Farm Bureau Manager.
What a fun way to learn about pumpkins and pollinators! Check out Michelle Schaub's new book "Pumpkin Smash" and already smash hit, "A Pathway for Pollinators." Enjoy ag accurate connections and lessons to use in your classroom!
Learn more about the 2025-26 ag literacy grants from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom and the IAA Foundation.
Thanks to April showers aplenty this year, most Illinois farmers will spend the first part of this month planting rows and rows of Illinois' top agriculture commodities: corn and soybeans, and we will follow suit by sharing rows and rows of our favorite corn and soybean resources!