Connecting Educators with Agriculture
Program Overview
Registration is now open for the 2026 session in Southern Oregon, and we look forward to welcoming a new group of educators eager to deepen their understanding of Oregon agriculture.
Each summer, we highlight three different agricultural commodities, ensuring a fresh experience annually, and allowing educators to return year after year. In 2025, the program featured beef, dairy production, and hydroponics.
- August 4-6, 2026
- 8:00am to 4:00pm all three days
- Breakfast and Lunch provided
- Mace Building at the Expo (1 Peninger Road, Central Point, Oregon 97502)
What Teachers Are Saying
“This PD was set up so well and the speakers and materials were perfect… Thank you so much for putting this together.”
-Educator from the Central Point School District
“It was a great experience, I learned so much from all of the speakers! The resources for the classroom experience were great. There was so much I didn’t know. I really enjoyed finding out more about CO2 and what has been happening with cows and ranches.”
-Educator from the Eagle Point School District
Program Layout
Day 1- Building Background Knowledge: Participate in demonstrations, listen to industry experts, and engage in activities that pertain to the commodities of focus.
Day 2- Get to Know Local Producers: Get out of the building and tour local farms and ranches!
Day 3- Discover and Explore Resources: Discover and get familiar with the abundance of educational resources available to educators.
The Teacher "Perks"
All attendees walk away with:
- 24 Professional Development Units (PDUs)
- a $300 microgrant to purchase agricultural supplies and resources for their classroom
- an agriculturally accurate children’s book
- a list of contacts of local producers, and industry experts that can serve as a resource to them and their students for field trips, guest speakers and projects
- an abundance of grade level appropriate resources
- access to a Google Drive Resource Hub
- (Optional) 3 discounted graduate level credits from Southern Oregon University
- (Optional) Professional headshots taken by our photographer
About the Founder
Gabriella is a sixth-generation cattle rancher and extremely passionate about agricultural education. She has her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Southern Oregon University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural Business Management with a Minor in Spanish from California State University, Chico.
She saw firsthand that teacher preparation programs for non-ag teachers were not sharing about the vast amount of resources available to integrate agriculture in the classroom, nor the value of it. With her heart being in both agriculture and education, she saw a unique way to educate the next generation about agriculture– through their teachers. Since very few teachers are from a farming and ranching background, Gabriella saw that we needed to start there, educating the teachers first.
Oregon Aglink proudly welcomed Cultivating the Next Gen into its educational outreach work in early 2026. With this transition, the program is poised to grow even further, expanding meaningful agricultural learning experiences for educators and inspiring the next generation of students to better understand where their food and resources come from.
FAQ- Cultivating the Next GEN
Answers to common questions about registration, funding, program details, and what to expect during this hands-on professional development experience.
Registration is $400 (non-refundable). Upon completion of all three days, participants receive a $300 micro-grant to purchase agricultural supplies and materials to support classroom agriculture education.
In many cases, school districts cover the cost of attendance. Funding may come from district-level professional development budgets or individual school site PD funds. If funding is not available, scholarship support may be an option.
Please reach out directly to [email protected] to inquire about scholarship opportunities that may cover the registration fee.
Cultivating the Next Gen is designed for K–12 educators who want to integrate agriculture into their classroom, regardless of prior ag experience.
Agriculture and STEM integrate very well. From plant science and soil health to engineering, technology, and data analysis, agriculture provides real-world applications for STEM concepts already being taught in K–12 classrooms. This program helps educators build those connections in practical, engaging ways.
Yes. The program is designed to help educators incorporate agriculture concepts into a wide range of subject areas.
No need to bring lunch. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day of the program.
Day 1: Business casual attire
Day 2: Closed-toe shoes are required; dress for outdoor/field learning (a hat is recommended)
Day 3: Participants will have the opportunity to take a professional headshot, business or professional attire is recommended.
The micro-grant is intended to support agriculture education in the classroom and can be used for materials, supplies, or other approved instructional resources aligned with program goals.
Thank You to Our Supporters
This year’s engaging programming is made possible by our generous sponsors for 2026 with more opportunities available!
PRIME PROMOTORS $5,000+
CHOICE CHAMPIONS $2,500 – $4,999
SELECT SUPPORTERS $1,500 – $2,499
Interested in helping educators connect directly with Oregon farmers and ranchers through program sponsorship? Email [email protected] and Gabriella will be in contact with you!
