Educators Selected for Exclusive Immersive Convention Experience

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and Nationwide have teamed up to bring outstanding educators to the American Farm Bureau Convention, January 19-22, 2024, for an exclusive immersive experience.

Selected educators will receive free registration for the 2024 AFBF Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as reimbursement for travel, lodging and meals while attending convention. The experience will connect teachers with farmers and ranchers from across the country to hear directly about modern farming.

Highlights of the experience will include participation in local agriculture tours, networking with farmers and ranchers as well as professionals involved in agricultural education, attendance at a special reception hosted by Nationwide, and access to general sessions and workshops at the AFBF Convention. Throughout their time in Salt Lake City, educators will gain an understanding of the Foundation’s educational resources and how county Farm Bureaus partner with teachers to help students learn about agriculture.

“We’re proud to partner with Nationwide to support teachers all across the country in a number of ways,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the Foundation for Agriculture. “This convention experience is another example of that partnership and will enable educators to connect with all types of farmers and ranchers. We hope they’ll leave convention with new ideas and information about agriculture to take back to their classrooms.”

The immersive convention experience program builds on Nationwide’s continued support of educators through its sponsorship of AFBFA’s Book of the Year Teacher Bundles. More than 400 educators received AFBFA’s 2023 Book of the Year “I Love Strawberries,” the accompanying educator guide, and a set of related Ag Mags, with funding provided by Nationwide.

“As a protection company founded by farmers, Nationwide remains deeply committed to the future of American agriculture,” said Nationwide and AFBFA board member Frank Burkett. “The opportunity for these outstanding educators to get a firsthand experience of Farm Bureau and agriculture is one that we hope will make a lasting impression and allow them to share with their peers and communities.”

AFBF Convention Educator Experience Participants

Joyce Bishop, California

Joyce is a nutrition educator for the University of California through Cooperative Extension, promoting nutrition, gardening, physical activity and healthy lifestyles. She works mostly with young people and loves teaching them about where their food comes from and watching them grow a garden. Joyce collaborates with local and state Farm Bureau offices with programs promoting health, nutrition and agricultural knowledge and education.

Jamie Brown, Ohio

Jamie is a sixth-grade science teacher at Miami East Junior High School in southwestern Ohio. With nearly a decade of teaching experience, she is on a mission to get kids excited about science and science careers. When not in the science lab with her students, Jamie can be found outside kayaking, camping or running with her husband, Matt.

Natalie Eckhart Rivera, California

Natalie has been teaching for 17 years across the different grade levels and disciplines. She is currently a high school teacher in Long Beach, California, helping recently incarcerated adults and others in the community receive their high school diplomas. Outside of teaching, Natalie has a passion for volunteering and riding motorcycles.

Lindsey Stalls, North Carolina

Lindsey has been an elementary educator for 14 years, beginning her career as a second and third grade teacher. She is currently the STEM coordinator at Eastern Elementary School in Greenville, North Carolina. She has a love and passion for STEM education and bringing classroom experiences to life for her students.