“Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week” is March 1-6 “It is our goal through our ‘Ag Books for Kids’ program to educate students about where their food comes from and what their life may be like without agriculture,” said Raenell Taylor during the formal proclamation signing for “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week” 2021.  “We can do this through agriculture related books and getting them into the classrooms to share the importance of agriculture.” The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Committee organizes the program and the county Farm Bureau Federations across the state donate agriculture books to Wyoming elementary school libraries.  2021 marks the seventeenth year of the program. In recognition of this effort, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon declared the week of March 1, 2021 as “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week.” “Thank you for your leadership and reminding us just how important agriculture literacy and education are here in Wyoming,” Governor Gordon said during the virtual proclamation signing with WyFB volunteers and staff.  “Agriculture has to be a part of the future, but it is also part of the solution too.” The “Wyoming Agriculture Literacy Week” proclamation reads: “Literacy is a top priority for school children and non-fiction books are an important tool in teaching children about the world around them.” The proclamation continues: “Many aspects of our daily lives, including the food we eat, clothes we wear, and medicine we depend on, are made possible because of agriculture.  Farmers and ranchers serve as environmental stewards, maintaining and improving soil and natural resources to pass on to future generations.” As part of the project, elementary classrooms not only receive the book donation at their school, but many have book readings.  With school visitor restrictions in place this year, the WyFB YF&R Committee created a video for classrooms to experience a virtual book reading and introduction from WyFB YF&R Committee members. “Even in an agriculture state like Wyoming we have a lot of students that are far removed from agriculture,” Taylor explained.  “We always look forward to sharing our agriculture story with elementary students because they are our future.” “We are so passionate about Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week to recognize and dedicate time to reading agriculture related books,” she concluded. WyFB President Fornstrom echoed Taylor’s sentiments about the program when thanking the Governor for recognizing the program through proclamation.  “Thank you for the good reminder that education is one of the most important activities we will do,” Fornstrom stated.  “One of our main goals with the program is making sure people know where their food comes from and that it is safe and abundant.” Wyoming students and teachers are encouraged to visit their school’s elementary library to check out the 2021 book "Better Together… ‘Digging It’ with Dairy & Beef, Building Healthy Bodies & Brains!" by Twins Rianna and Sheridan Chaney.  You may also visit www.wyfb.org and click on the education tab for a virtual reading video.  Classroom activity ideas and contest rules/details are also available on the website. Three contests are offered for Wyoming students to encourage use of the book and provide application opportunities for what is learned.  The 2021 contests are:  Coloring Contest for kindergarten and first graders; Poster Contest for second and third graders; and a Marketing Ad Contest for fourth and fifth graders.  The county contest deadline is April 2, 2021. The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization.  The purpose of the YF&R program is to develop leaders for the betterment of agriculture and Farm Bureau.   Visit www.wyfb.org.