The Agriculture in the Classroom movement was initiated in the 1980's by USDA when John Block was Secretary of Agriculture. Block recommended the formation of State groups that would develop materials and offer training for teachers that integrated agriculture into the existing curriculum. We all partake of agriculture everyday. With only 2 percent of our population producing food and fiber for all of us, many students have no idea where their food and clothing comes from.
Farmers provide an abundance of food products.
The American family spends less than 10 percent of it's total income on food, the lowest in the world. Economically, American agriculture employs 21 million people or 18.5 percent of the labor force. United States agriculture provides a safe supply of food that frees the rest of us to concentrate on other activities such as medical research, space travel, computer technology, art, music, literature, philosophy, and recreation. Simply put, U.S. agriculture is number one this is reason enough to educate students about agriculture. South Carolina Agriculture in the Classroom materials can be integrated into any curriculum.