FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OAFE PRESENTS TEACHER AWARD AT CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW
MILTON, ON (September 12, 2011) For the third year in a row, Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. (OAFE) in partnership with Canada‟s Outdoor Farm Show will be recognizing an Ontario teacher for their achievements and efforts in integrating agricultural concepts into classroom curriculum.
This year, Jason Beer, a teacher at Eastview Secondary School in Barrie, has met all the criteria of the OAFE Teacher Recognition Award and will be recognized on Tuesday, September 13th at the Opening Ceremonies of Canada‟s Outdoor Farm Show.
Nominees for the Teacher Recognition Award are evaluated by a panel of judges from the education and agriculture sectors, based on four main criteria: creativity and utilization of agricultural information, an interdisciplinary approach, advancement of educational standards and student impact.
For the last 10 years, Jason has taught Canadian and World Studies courses (history and geography), as well as Civics and Law to Grade 9-12 students and has always made a point of finding ways to include agricultural topics into his classroom lessons and assignments so that students will have a good appreciation of where their food originates.
Inspiration for his classroom lessons stem from his own upbringing and experiences on a 200 acre family farm outside Cookstown, a lifestyle that he values to this day and is passing along to his own young family. In addition to his teaching career, Jason also owns and operates a farm in Oro-Medonte Township, Simcoe County, focusing on cash cropping, beef, eggs and maple syrup.
“I try to bring that awareness to the classroom and help students understand that food and water are basic necessities of life, important resources that we must protect for the future with good planning and decision making,” says Beer. “They need to know that their choices have consequences and will impact personal health, national sovereignty and global economies.”
“Jason educates his students about basic survival realities”, says Colleen Smith, Executive Director of Ontario Agri-Food Education. “Messages like…‟civilization began with agriculture‟ and „agriculture is the source of food for just under 7 million people on the planet‟. A Teacher of Excellence can sift through the clutter to showcase what‟s critical to ground the next generation and Jason is so deserving of this year‟s award…bravo!”
But most rewarding for Jason, is the feedback that he receives from students when they tell him that they are sharing classroom lessons and information at home, buying locally produced food products and supporting the local economy. “Then I know I‟ve been heard”, says Beer.
Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. is a not-for-profit, registered charity dedicated to enhancing the learning experiences of students by providing high quality, objective and curriculum-linked agriculture and food related learning materials and programs to Ontario educators.
Canada's Outdoor Farm Show is the nation's largest agricultural trade show which showcases the newest agricultural technologies and innovations through demonstrations and interactive displays each September in Woodstock, Ontario.
For more information, please contact:
Colleen Smith, Executive Director
OR Jan Robertson, Marketing & Communications Manager
905-878-1510 ext 22 or
director@oafe.org 905-878-1510 ext 24 or
communications@oafe.org-30-
