Each year, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom recognizes an educator who goes above and beyond to help students understand Wyoming’s agriculture, natural resources, and communities.
Mrs. Umbach discovered Wyoming Ag in the Classroom through summer professional development opportunities, attending trainings and field trips across Wyoming to explore topics like agriculture, fish hatcheries, and the uranium industry. That opportunity to keep learning about Wyoming is part of what made being named the Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Educator of the Year especially meaningful.
“I was surprised that I won the Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Educator of the Year for doing something that I love,” shared Mrs. Umbach. “I love learning more about our state by attending the summer training sessions and then teaching those lessons to my students. I love teaching kids about Wyoming. It is not only about agriculture. Livestock and crops were what initially brought people to Wyoming and the wide-open range, and then it was minerals, energy, and tourist attractions that brought more people here. Teaching kids about our amazing state so they want to stay, get jobs, and raise families here is what it is really about.”
In her classroom, Wyoming’s resources and communities become a way for students to practice reading, writing, math, science, and social studies while making connections to the state they call home. “She integrates Wyoming Ag in the Classroom in fun, engaging, and cross-curricular lessons in her classroom using reading, writing, and math skills along with hands-on activities such as exploring wind energy with pinwheels and hand dryers,” shared Principal Frazier.
That hands-on approach helps engage students as they learn about energy and natural resources, as well as land ownership and stewardship.
“Students love the activities because they are engaging and fun. They learn about wind by using pinwheels and hair dryers; who wouldn’t want to do that?” Kelly said. “We learn about public and private lands and about renewable and nonrenewable resources and how to use them wisely. Students go home and talk about what they are learning, then come back sharing information they learned from their parents or telling us how what we learned affects their parents’ jobs. It is making connections and creating conversations about our learning with families.”
Those learning connections also reinforce a lesson Mrs. Umbach hopes students will remember long after third grade: caring for Wyoming and its resources is a responsibility everyone shares.
“Teaching stewardship is part of that, too,” she said. “It is the responsibility of each of us to take care of our school, our community, and our resources for the next generations. We can make a difference by doing little things now.”
Congratulations, Mrs. Umbach, on this recognition of your commitment to educational excellence and the brilliant work you do each day!
See the press release from Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom below:
