As a member of Virginia Farm Bureau, you help support Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program—which connects children to agriculture, inside the classroom and out.

Now in its 25th year, AITC provides support to educators through professional development trainings, curriculum, classroom grants and tangible resources to help children understand and appreciate Virginia’s largest industry—agriculture.  

Outside the classroom, AITC provides Farm Bureau volunteers with resources and tools to help educate children in their communities. As part of AITC’s largest volunteer effort, the Agriculture Literacy Project, volunteers read to children in nearly 2,000 elementary school classrooms each year.

“We have so many Farm Bureau members who participate in the Agriculture Literacy Project, and others who use our educational materials to teach children—and their parents—about agriculture,” said Kelly Pious, AITC executive director. “They are the face of agriculture in their communities and our program’s impact is so much greater because of their efforts.”

AITC is funded through donations to the Virginia Foundation for AITC, a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Virginia Farm Bureau and its members are the biggest contributors to the foundation. Additionally, the foundation receives support from corporations and agriculture organizations, individuals and special events. All resources are provided at no cost to educators or children.

“We receive tremendous support from the Virginia Farm Bureau and the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, as well as Virginia Farm Bureau members and employees,” Pious said. “Without this support, our impact would be greatly diminished.”

To find out more about Agriculture in the Classroom, visit AgInTheClass.org.

Support AITC when you shop using AmazonSmile

Did you know you can support the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom using AmazonSmile when you shop at Amazon.com? It’s a simple, automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization each time you shop—at no cost to you. 

When you shop at AmazonSmile from a Web browser on your computer or mobile device—not the Amazon app—Amazon will donate .5 percent of your purchase to the Virginia AITC Foundation, which helps support AITC’s mission of connecting children to agriculture.

No registration or cost is required; now that's shopping smart! Be sure to bookmark AmazonSmile so you can start helping today.