# Jefferson County schools spotlight farm animals during statewide ag education week  
**Published:** 2026-03-27T14:10:34.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/03/jefferson-county-schools-teach-students-about-farm-animals-during-all-in-for-ag-education-week/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/jefferson-county-schools-spotlight-farm-animals-during-statewide-ag-education-we

LEXINGTON, Ky. — [Jefferson County Public Schools participated in the statewide All in for Ag Education Week](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/03/jefferson-county-schools-teach-students-about-farm-animals-during-all-in-for-ag-education-week/) by hosting hands-on learning experiences that introduced students to agricultural practices and animal husbandry.

During the week of March 16-20, [schools around Kentucky focused on agriculture](https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/ag-education-week.html), with Jefferson County schools serving as showcase sites for the initiative. At Tulley Elementary, third-graders engaged with a student-created children's book titled "Millie's Farm Day," which follows a day in the life of a dairy farm. Students watched a video demonstrating how the book's illustrator, Blakely Beth Callahan, draws cows, learning about the care and attention dairy animals require.

"I learned that sometimes farmers will hook cows up to a machine to get the milk and they have to clean their beds because no one wants to lay on a dirty bed, and they need space outside to rest and roam and play around," said 3rd-grader Eli Montgomery.

At the same school, first-graders participated in hands-on instruction about chickens, including helping to incubate chicks and growing food in the school's garden. "I liked learning how feathers and beaks help them survive in their life cycle," said 1st-grader Amelia Peoples.

[Highland Middle School in Jefferson County showcased different agricultural classes](https://www.kyagr.com/Ky-agnews/press-releases.html), where 7th-graders care for small animals such as chickens, rabbits and quails. Students raise the animals to be prepared for food served in the school's cafeteria, with culinary classes learning to prepare quail eggs and rabbit meat for consumption.

[The biannual initiative began in 2025 when the Kentucky Department of Education, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman joined forces](https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/ag-education-week.html) to bring agriculture lessons into classrooms across the state. Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood said studying agriculture helps students learn valuable life skills such as team building and leadership.

[The program provides educators with lesson plans, field trip opportunities with 300 farm tour hosts, and guest speakers from the agriculture industry](https://www.kyagr.com/Ky-agnews/press-releases.html). The second All in for Ag Education Week will take place September 21-25.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/03/jefferson-county-schools-teach-students-about-farm-animals-during-all-in-for-ag-education-week/)
- [Kentucky Department of Agriculture - Ag Education Week information](https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/ag-education-week.html)
- [Kentucky Department of Agriculture - Press releases](https://www.kyagr.com/Ky-agnews/press-releases.html)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Teacher, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/03/jefferson-county-schools-teach-students-about-farm-animals-during-all-in-for-ag-education-week/.