Education Advisory Committee Spotlight: Becky Grabarski

Farming for the Future Foundation’s education advisory committee is dedicated to teaching all generations of learners about agriculture, food and growers. To help children and families gain a better understanding of food production and meal time, the FFTFF education committee is a team of teachers and professionals with experience in school systems who are creating lesson plans and connecting with schools and teachers to integrate engaging agriculture-centered lessons into classrooms.

Get to know Farming for the Future Foundation: Spotlight on Education Advisory Committee Member Becky Grabarski

Every year, Becky Grabarski’s high school agriculture education classes fill with students excited to learn about animals, plants, food and natural resources. Although a few of Becky’s students come from farming backgrounds, the vast majority do not have any connection to the field. Many students at Adams-Friendship High School develop interests in agriculture as young children when members of the local FFA chapter visit their kindergarten or elementary schools.

In addition to teaching, Becky is the FFA advisor in Adams County and plans agriculture themed events and education for students of all ages. She and students in her FFA program host petting zoos, read books and lead projects on agriculture in classrooms, and take kids on farm tours. These activities spark curiosity and interest in the field that can stay with them through high school graduation and even influence career paths.

“Our FFA program leads an activity related to farming with every grade,” Becky said. “That means from the time they are four years old, kids in Adams County have experiences with agriculture. This helps them understand the world around them and gets them thinking about jobs in a growing industry as they get older.”

Once in high school, Becky’s students experience hands-on lessons that include time in the classroom greenhouse with hydroponics and aquaculture as well as interaction with live animals. They go on trips outside of the classroom to do stream testing with the land conservation office and to learn about forestry. Becky’s students gain a deep understanding of agriculture and benefit from additional lessons on applying knowledge and problem solving.

“The most important thing that I want to do is teach kids to think critically,” Becky said. “Once kids learn how to reason and think for themselves, they can figure anything out. This helps them in agriculture, in their other classes and in life.”

Becky grew up on a dairy farm and gained experience on a neighbor’s potato and vegetable farm after high school. She realized that she wanted a career that would combine her interests in horticulture, meat animals and dairy. Agriculture education was the answer and, after an internship in a classroom, she knew she had found her path. In addition to teaching, Becky farms with her mother and brothers. The family owns 780 acres where they grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa and own a beef herd.

Becky sees jobs as the future of agriculture. This future contains not only traditional farming jobs, but perhaps jobs that have not yet been invented.

“There’s variable rate irrigation, drones, satellites and GIS,” said Becky. “It’s all new technology, and it’s going to keep changing and growing. We need kids who are willing to learn, problem solve, work hard and take jobs on farms.”

Thank you Becky, for sparking interest in agriculture, teaching students about opportunities in the field and volunteering your time and talents in the community and on the Farming for the Future Foundation Education Advisory Committee!

A little more about Becky:

Best way to enjoy a potato: Loaded with lots of butter, cheese, and bacon sitting right next to a steak.

Piece of technology I couldn’t live without: Smart phones are a wonderful resource. You can start an irrigation, find a new teaching lesson, research how to fix a machine, or map a field (just to name a few things). 

Favorite place to be or favorite thing to be doing: If I am not at school or at the farm, I am likely to be hunting or fishing. 

Words of wisdom or mantra to live by: Thankful for the Good, Overlooking the Bad, and Praying for the Best