| What: |
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Summer Agriculture Institute (SAI) is a 3-credit, week-long, graduate level class for K-12 educators with little or no background in agriculture offered through Oregon State University. |
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The goal of SAI is to help educators use Agriculture as a context (or theme) for teaching the Academic Standards (science, math, social studies, English, etc.). |
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Current, factual, scientific information about agriculture is presented. Participants are provided with educational materials to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum. |
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SAI shows how farmers and ranchers care for the land and water they use. |
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Teachers learn the procedures for ensuring consumers a safe food source. |
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They are exposed to the complexities of agricultural marketing and economics, both of which play an important role in agriculture today. |
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 The participants are given a first-hand experience with agriculture through tours of processing plants, farms, nurseries and businesses.
*The highlight of the week is an overnight stay on a working farm or ranch where the teacher has an opportunity to meet and work with agriculturists. *The host family stay is a required part of the course in which the participant is graciously welcomed into a farm host's home and shown the ropes of that operation. |
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| When: |
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Session #1: 2009; Corvallis, OR
Session #2: July 12-17, 2009; La Grande, OR |
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| Why: |
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SAI increases participant’s knowledge and understanding of important agricultural issues and applications. |
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SAI provides information that will contribute to the goal of helping people make well-informed decisions about agriculture. |
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SAI Materials are extremely effective |
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90% of the participants were using SAI materials five years after attending SAI.
Teachers indicated a very high rating for usability of materials received at SAI.
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| Cost: |
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While the participants only pay $400, the total cost per student is around $1600, which includes about $820 for three graduate level credits at OSU. Staying with the group at OSU for Session #1 or at EOU for Session #2 is a required part of the course. |
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| SAI History: |
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Since its inception in 1989, over 450 teachers have attended. |
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In 1996, SAI was awarded the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Progress |
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Award for Education. |
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We depend on private, commodity, organizational and agri-business financial support to fund the remaining costs. |
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To aid in that effort, SAI became a project of the Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation (OAEF) in 1991. The foundation is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. |
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| Applications available and Questions answered by contacting: |
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Jana Lee Dick, Session #2 Coordinator, La Grande/Union
Phone: 541-562-5129
Fax: 541-562-5348
Email: jana.dick@oregonstate.edu |
(SAI)
