“Iowa ranks 7th in U.S. turkey production, with approximately 12 million raised annually,” said Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director. “Through this program, students will make connections with food and farming and teachers will gain new insights into how they can incorporate agriculture into their curriculum.”
The November 16 FarmChat is the beginning of a three-part series spanning from November to January. During the series, FarmChats will cover turkey farming, unique poultry, and food safety and preparation. While FarmChats can be used as a standalone resource, the content pairs well with IALF’s Gobble Up! student program. The Gobble Up! program contains units with lesson plans and resources for elementary (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12) detailing turkey production and marketing. At the conclusion of the unit, students will have created a turkey product marketing plan that can be submitted into the contest portion of the program. The FarmChat series and Gobble Up! program provide support and resources to educators as they connect agricultural concepts with their current curriculum.
IALF’s FarmChat program brings the farm experience directly into the classroom. With a laptop at the school and a mobile device on the farm, students can connect with and interact with Iowa farmers. This immersive experience allows students to see the daily operations of a working turkey farm and engage in discussions with experienced farmers while conveniently staying within their classroom. Students will learn about the vital role agriculture plays in their lives. A recent similar FarmChat program, Learning about Pigs, garnered attendance by more than 3,000 students in seven states.
“FarmChats hosted by IALF have proven to be a great way to connect students to Iowa farmers,” said Morgan Pothoven, Iowa Turkey Federation. “This program gives students a glimpse into the life of a turkey farmer without having to leave the classroom.”
IALF encourages teachers and students in grades 3-12 from all over Iowa to participate in this learning opportunity. Students can join IALF as they virtually tour a turkey farm in Hamilton County, Iowa.
Event Details
Title: Ag in Action: All About Poultry FarmChat (Turkey Farming)
Date: November 16, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. (CST)
Teachers can go to this link to register for this Ag in Action: All About Poultry event. For more information about the Ag in Action: All About Poultry series visit our website.
Questions can be directed to Kelly Foss at kfoss@iowaagliteracy.org.
About the Iowa Turkey Federation
The Iowa Turkey Federation is a 75-year-old organization that represents, supports and promotes the turkey industry and its members.
About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundationwww.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Iowa is the leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population, estimated to reach more than nine billion by 2050. The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. Through Agriculture in the Classroom efforts, IALF engages with teachers and students throughout Iowa. IALF is supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, GROWMARK, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Turkey Federation, Corteva Agriscience, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Nutrien, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, and others in support of strengthening agriculture literacy among pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and their students. For more information visit IALF online at