Happy Spring! As we enter this new season, the staff at Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom looks forward to the promise of longer days, less rain, and, of course, engaging students in our annual Literacy Project. This year, we are bringing strawberries and other Oregon berries to the table—what is your favorite Oregon berry? Read on to learn about our Literacy Project Kick-off Event as well as how to get involved in this year’s berry-sweet project!
About the 2026 Literacy Project
The 2026 Literacy Project features the book I Love Strawberries! by Shannon Anderson. Readers will join Jolie as she sets out to grow her own strawberries, learning firsthand the responsibility, patience, and care it takes to raise a crop. Along the way, she discovers that farming isn’t just about enjoying the harvest—it’s about problem-solving, persistence, and appreciating where our food comes from. Accompanying the book is an activity inspired by the beloved children’s game, Candy Land. In this exciting game, students will become berry farmers in Oregon with the goal of growing their own berries from seed to harvest. Students will learn how to plan, plant, care, and enjoy their crops to finish the game.
OWA Members and Oregon AITC staff with author Shannon Anderson, middle!
Celebrating Oregon berries with a Literacy Project Kick-off
We hosted our first-ever Literacy Project Kick-off at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) at the end of February—and what a successful event it was! Oregon Ag in the Classroom welcomed the author, Shannon Anderson, for an exciting and engaging author talk. Shannon discussed her writing journey and the persistence needed to become a well-known children’s book author, highlighting the message that the best things don’t always happen overnight. We also heard from representatives at the Oregon Strawberry and Blueberry Commissions and NWREC, each of whom discussed the importance of berries to Oregon’s agricultural economy. Later, guests enjoyed fresh pie and a berry-themed raffle and took home a variety of 2026 Literacy Project goodies. Thank you to all those who attended, most especially, the OWA members!
Volunteer for our Literacy Project!
Each year, we rely on hundreds of volunteers to help us reach 20,000 students with the Literacy Project. This year is no different! We will provide training for volunteers who wish to connect with local kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms to set up time to visit, read, and lead a short activity with students. Start to finish, the program takes 30-45 minutes.
The Literacy Project will run through early June. Register today to bring agricultural literacy to students in your community by reaching out to your local schools. For more information about the program or to sign up to read to a classroom, visit our website, contact Evelyn Tedrick or call 541-737-1318.
Submitted by:
Jade Davidson, PhD, Executive Director
Jade.Davidson@oregonstate.edu
541-737-8629