2025 TEACHER of the YEAR AWARD Logo

  • 2025 Teacher of the Year Award

    Sponsored by PFB Promotion & Education Committee

  • The 30th annual Ag Institute Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by the PFB Promotion & Education Committee. The purpose of this award is to recognize teachers who are doing an excellent job of teaching their class about agriculture and integrating agricultural concepts into the existing curriculum.

    Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and its board of directors know the difficulties faced by today's farmers are caused by regulators, legislators and a public who do not understand the business of producing food and fiber. They applaud you for your participation in the Educator’s Ag Institute and are highly interested in learning how you have incorporated what you learned into your classroom curriculum and activities.

    In order for agriculture to remain a viable industry, it is important for the public to understand the crucial role that it plays in our history, economy, and quality of life. When the next generation of farmers takes over we hope the public will be better informed about agricultural issues. This education must begin with today's youth. It is for this reason that the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau would like to recognize a schoolteacher who is doing an outstanding job of educating tomorrow's citizens about this nation's number one industry.

    The application must be postmarked by September 15, 2025. The Teacher of the Year will receive a $500 cash award. The Winner will be recognized at the PFB Annual Meeting in November and at the 2026 Educator’s Ag Institute. The winner will be reimbursed up to $1,000 towards registration, meals and lodging at the 2026 National AITC Conference in Providence, RI.

    • Rules 
      1. Applicant must be a full-time teacher in grades K-12 and a graduate of the Educator’s Ag Institute Workshop. Previous winners are ineligible to apply.
      2. When completing the application, you may use additional pages if needed. Include any supplemental materials, such as pictures, students’ work, newspaper articles, etc. that support your application.
      3. The completed applications and supporting material must be postmarked by September 15. Items should be mailed to the following:
        Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
        Teacher of the Year Award
        Attn: Charlene Espenshade
        PO Box 8736
        Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736
      4. The winner will receive materials that teach about agriculture, targeted to their grade level, plus cash award as follows:
        Prize - $500 cash, paid by the PFB P&E Committee. The winner will be reimbursed up to $1,000 towards registration, meals and lodging at the 2026 National AITC Conference in Providence, RI. After receipts are submitted, this will be paid for by the P&E Committee of the PA Farm Bureau.
      5.  The Winner will be honored in June at the 2026 Educator’s Ag Institute. They will also be invited to speak at the 2026 Educator’s Ag Institute. The recipient will be asked to share his/her methods, ideas and successes teaching about agriculture with those in attendance.
      6. Applications will be reviewed by the P&E Committee members. Selection will be based on the following criteria:
        • variety of agricultural concepts taught
        • extent of integration into other subject matter
        • use of creative techniques
        • use of classroom, school, and community resources
      7.  Selection will take place by October 20; you will be contacted after this date if you are the winner.

  • 2025 Teacher of the Year Award Application

  • Application Questions

  • 1. Was agriculture infused into the curriculum throughout the year, or was it taught during a specific time?

  • 2.    What agricultural concepts did the students learn and what methods were used to teach them?

    Please include any support material, such as lesson plans, photos, students' work, news articles, etc. using the file upload option below your answer field

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  • 3.    How was agriculture integrated into the existing curriculum?

  • 4. What changes, if any, were noticed in the students’ behavior or attitude towards agriculture after learning about it?

  • Statement of Release

  • I, the undersigned, release all components of this nomination—including photographs—to the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation for use on the foundation website; to be shared with sponsors; and for use in brochures, media releases, and publicity promoting future recognition of the organization. Photos will also be taken of the award winners at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

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