Literacy Project
Photo by Mattes MichaelaThe Literacy Project is an annual interactive learning experience where each participating class receives a FREE class kit complete with educational resources and enough supplies to complete hands-on activities with students. This program integrates agricultural themes into PreK-12 instruction, connecting to academic standards for language arts, social studies, STEM, and AFNR. This project seeks to cultivate a love for reading while enhancing the understanding of agricultural concepts, ultimately fostering empowered and literate communities. A new topic and book, featuring Colorado agriculture stories, are chosen each year. This is a FREE program.
2025 Literacy Project
Cattle, Corn, and Courage – The Story of Dr. John Matsushima
Dr. John Matsushima, who is currently 103 years old, is the son of Japanese immigrants, born in Denver and raised on a family farm in Platteville, Colorado. He started raising cattle as a member of 4-H and FFA and attended Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University, in Fort Collins. He has spent nearly 65 years of his life at CSU as a student, professor, and researcher, maintaining regular office hours until 2020. Dr. Matsushima battled bigotry and poverty on his path to becoming a legendary scientist in beef cattle nutrition whose innovations have influenced the global food system. Dr. Matsushima has already educated several generations of students and we can't wait to share his story and significance with a new generation of students.
Free Program for PreK-12 Students
NEW for 2025 - TWO class kits available - one for elementary level students and a separate kit for middle/high school level students. We will provide enough supplies for as many participating students and teachers as you indicate.
The Elementary Level Kit includes a copy of the new children's book, "Cattle, Corn, and Courage" per participating teacher, a short video interview with Dr. Matsushima, samples of corn, a beef stick for all preK-5 participants, a History Colorado virtual field trip, corresponding educational resources, and one copy of the Colorado Ag Careers magazine per participating teacher.
The Middle/High School Level Kit includes a copy of the children's book per participating teacher, a longer documentary video on Dr. Matsushima, corresponding educational resources, access to the History Colorado virtual field trip, and the new Colorado Ag Careers magazine for all participating MS/HS students and teachers (published in partnership with The Fence Post) with a higher-level story on Dr. Matsushima and information on careers in agriculture.
Ag/FFA teachers are encouraged to request the Middle/High School Level Kit for their students and then check with their elementary teachers to request kits and/or complete the Elementary Level Kit with the younger students.
Deadline to sign up is January 20, 2025 - or until kit requests are maxed out. This program takes place from mid-February through May. Teachers may complete the activities at their convenience. Kit deliveries will begin after February 9th and anticipated to be finished by the end of March.
Get Involved Today!
We are nearly to our goal of securing $100,000+ for this project. This is a free program to preK-12 grade students and educators. However, the cost for CoAITC to implement this project is $50 per class. Four sponsorship levels are visible with varying visibility and benefits. For the full project scope, budget, and sponsorship opportunities, read the full project proposal. To learn more, contact Jennifer Scharpe, CoAITC Executive Director.
Join this Growing List of Project Sponsors
Colorado Beef Council, Western Ag Network, Colorado Corn Promotion Council, Colorado Farm Show, Beef Sticks for Backpacks, The Fence Post, Bank of Colorado, Magnum Feedlot, Logan County CattleWomen, Pioneer-Corteva, McEndaffer Feedyard, Colorado Livestock Association, Dr. Temple Grandin, National Western Stock Show, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, CattleFax, Colorado FFA Foundation, and various individua sponsors and donors.
Other Ways to Get Involved
- Volunteer to visit classes as a guest reader by completing this form
- Encourage your local teachers to sign up to participate or sign up your own classes by completing the 2025 Literacy Project Sign-Up form
- Pre-order your own copy of Cattle, Corn, and Courage directly from author Rachel Gabel
Literacy Project Archive
2024 Literacy Project
Pueblo Chile
The project focus for 2024 is the Pueblo Chile – a unique chile pepper variety vital to Colorado agriculture. A new book – featuring the true-life story of Pueblo Chiles has been published for this project. The book was produced by a family team from Colorado – Rachel Allnutt of Walden is the author, Sierra Linke of Craig is the illustrator, and McCall Knecht of Pueblo is the publisher. Copies of the book may be purchased from Knecht Media.
2024 Literacy Project Program Reach
Educational Resources
This project and the corresponding student activities meet academic standards for Reading, Writing, and Communicating, Science, Visual Arts, Social Studies, Comprehensive Health, and Math.
- 2024 Literacy Project Program Guide
- Important Notice About Classroom Kits
- Seed, Sprout, Spice! Google Slides (with book pages, student pre- and post-test, vocabulary, fun facts, and History Colorado video)
- Try It! – Pueblo Chile Tasting Experience
- Plant It! – Pueblo Chile Seed Planting Activity
- Draw It! – Pueblo Chile Poster Contest
- Take A Trip! – Pueblo Chile Virtual Field Trip with History Colorado
- Fun Facts About Pueblo Chiles and Historic Chile Recipes
- Power Up! – Pueblo Chile Nutrition Activity
- Add It Up! – Pueblo Chile Math Activity
- Test It! – Pueblo Chile Vocabulary Crossword
- String It Up! – Pueblo Chile Ristra Activity
- 2024 Literacy Project Teacher/Volunteer Post-Event Survey
Volunteer are needed to visit classrooms
If you'd like to help with the volunteer guest reader experience for the Literacy Project, complete this CoAITC Volunteer Form.
More support is needed to bring this program to 1,000 classes
Doubling the reach from previous years! We have reached the maximum limit of classes current funding will support. The cost of this program is about $52 per class. Make a tax deductible gift today to ensure all classes that want to participate are able to (we would hate to have to turn away classes).
Thank you to our 2024 Literacy Project Sponsors
Thank you to those who helped bring this project to life! Colorado Department of Agriculture, Pueblo Seed & Food Company, Pueblo Chile Growers Association, CSU Rural Initiatives, Colorado Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, Pueblo County Farm Bureau, DiSanti Farm, Milberger Farms at Peppe's, Musso Farms, Crites Produce, McCall Knecht, plus many individual sponsors. This program has had a HUGE impact across Colorado!!
We Made the News!
The Colorado Literacy Project featuring Pueblo chiles is going viral with media coverage across the state. We thank all the networks and outlets who have shared our story! Also thanks to our agriculture industry partners who have promoted this project to their stakeholders.
2023 Literacy Project
The Woolly Way: Papou and the Story of Lantern Ridge
Written by Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman-Munsterteiger
The publication of this book is a joint project of Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom, the Colorado Sheep & Wool Authority (ColoradoSheep.org), the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation, the Colorado State Forest Service (csfs.colostate.edu), and various individual sponsors and donors including the Colorado Wool Growers Association and the Larimer County Farm Bureau.
The Woolly Way: Papou and the Story of Lantern Ridge tells of the role sheep and shepherds have played in Colorado, historically to present-day, including cultural and land management contributions. The illustrations are based on historic and modern photos of sheep ranching in western Colorado. Copies of this book may be ordered from RachelGabel.com.
2023 Literacy Project Program Reach
2023 Literacy Project Resources and Curriculum
2022 Literacy Project
The Sweetest Treat
Written by Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman-Munsterteiger
The publication of this book is a joint project of the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture (www.GrowingYourFuture.com), USDA/CDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation on behalf of The Fence Post Magazine, and various individual donors.
Maxine's recipe tin is filled to the brim with history, stories, wisdom, and a reminder that kindness never goes out of style. Set in the orchards of western Colorado, The Sweetest Treat is based on the story of Mrs. Maxine Lundgren Clark Allen. Mrs. Allen learned the peach business by living it, and was a strong and eloquent voice for farm labor and agriculture. Of all the agricultural products grown, peaches are one of the sweetest treats.
2022 Literacy Project Program Reach
2021 Literacy Project
Still Good: The Faces of Family Agriculture
Written by Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman-Munsterteiger
This book was published in a partnership between the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture and the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation on behalf of The Fence Post Magazine.
In the book, a young boy finds his grandpa's photo album that includes 1950s-era photos of a produce stand, a sheep ranch, the Denver Union Stock Yards, a farm with a milking Shorthorn cow, an aerial sprayer, and a tractor. He spends time listening to stories and then adds his own stories with modern-day photos and stories from various farms and ranches across Colorado including Knapp's Farm Stand, Rocky Ford; Theos Swallow Fork Ranch, Meeker; Livestock Exchange, Inc., Brush; Chapin Family Dairies, Weldona; and Marc Arnusch Farms, Prospect Valley. Comparing and contrasting the two eras, the story's main character notes changes but sees that agriculture is, in fact, still good.
The illustrator used reference photos – as many as ten per illustration – to ensure historical accuracy. Using a combination of sketching and painting in computer programs Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator, she created spreads that bring to life modern agriculture and its foundations.
Watch read-aloud recording of this book by Jerry Sonnenberg.
Order copies of this book from RachelGabel.com.
2020 Literacy Project
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!
Lessons to accompany this book
2019 Literacy Project
John Deere, That's Who!
Back in the 1830s, who was a young blacksmith from Vermont, about to make his mark on American history? John Deere, that's who! This illustrated biography tells the story of John Deere and his contributions to agriculture. Learn how John Deere invented a steel plow and changed farming forever.
2019 Literacy Project Resources
2018 Literacy Project
Little Grandpa and Me - Learning to be a Dairy Farmer
This non-fiction book, written by Nora Immordino Feldpausch of Fort Collins, Colo., explains the activities that take place on a working dairy farm, from the perspective of a five-year-old child who lives there. The book is set in Colorado, with beautiful photographs depicting the daily activities on the dairy farm.
2018 Literacy Project Resources
Watch read-aloud recording of this book by author Nora Immordino Feldpausch.