There were special visitors Thursday in classrooms throughout the state. Ranchers, farmers, and growers traveled to their local schools… to read stories about agriculture. A major goal of “Ag Literacy Day” is to teach youngsters about the source of the food they eat. Nancy Green runs “Green Citrus” in Alva. She and her husband farm about 130 acres. Green says she read to 5 different classes at Saint Francis Xavier—a Catholic school in Fort Myers.

“The book that I read is ‘How Groundhog’s Garden Grew. It’s about a groundhog and a squirrel. And the squirrel teaches the groundhog how to plant a garden. And the idea of it is to let children know more about agriculture—and its role in our community… And that agriculture isn’t just oranges and cabbage… that it’s cookies… which are made from flower!”

Public schools also participated today/Thursday. Florida’s Ag Commissioner—Charles Bronson—says it’s important because most children are several generations removed from the farm