(WNY News Now) In order to introduce young people to the farm-to-table journey through an engaging and enjoyable educational experience, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County extends an invitation to local schools and libraries to participate in the 2025 Agriculture Literacy Week.
JAMESTOWN The Agriculture and 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County is thrilled to commemorate Agriculture Literacy Week, which takes place from March 17–21, 2025. 365 days a year, Agriculture Literacy Week is devoted to introducing young people about agriculture and honoring those who work in the sector to provide nutritious foods!
Josie Laurie oversees the Chautauqua County program, which is administered at the state level through New York Agriculture in the Classroom. Libraries and schools can arrange for a volunteer to read a book with an agricultural theme and guide the young people in an entertaining and interesting activity. After that, the book is given to the library or school for future study and enjoyment.
The Pie That Molly Grew by Sue Heavenrich has been chosen as the book for the 2025 Agricultural Literacy Week program. Young people will accompany Molly on her adventure from sowing a single seed to harvesting a pumpkin. Every step of growth—from the seed to the sprout to the leaves to the last fruit on the vine—is displayed under Molly’s careful supervision and care. In the end, Molly’s beautiful pumpkin is transformed into a delectable pie that everyone can enjoy as a thank-you party, all from the seed she planted. Young people in Chautauqua County will take part in their own seed-to-pumpkin activity after learning about Molly’s journey, and they might even get to sample roasted pumpkin seeds.
Without the generosity of volunteers and funders, this initiative could not succeed. Our kind county benefactors and New York Agriculture in the Classroom provide funding for books and activity items. Every book that is donated has a bookplate that names the donors. Donations are still needed by CCE Chautauqua to run the 2025 Agricultural Literacy Week. In order to have an effective outreach campaign, we want to raise $1,000.
Additionally, CCE Chautauqua is seeking volunteers to read in classrooms. In addition to providing all the necessary materials for the reading, coordinators will work with volunteers to determine the ideal time and school for them. Please contact Josie Laurie at [email protected], 716-664-9502 ext.216, or via the CCE Chautauqua Ag Literacy webpage at https://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/new-york-agriculture-literacy-week if you would like to donate or read during the 2025 Agricultural Literacy Week.
About 50 volunteers read to more than 3,200 students in Chautauqua County in 2024. They also led them in a seed-to-strawberry activity and concluded the program by giving each classroom a taste of fresh strawberries. For the 2024 Agricultural Literacy Week, CCE Chautauqua would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this program possible as well as all of our donors, including John and Carol Hardenburg, Johnathan Penhollow, John Hemmer, Olde Chautauqua Farms, Richard and Janice Jozwiak, Sue Harper, Green Banks Farm-Dan and Anna Crowell, Green Banks Farm-Dan and Anna Crowell, Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, Dan Smith, Dave Munch & Sara Toth, Farm Credit East, ACA, Green Banks Farm-Dan and Anna Crowell, Jamestown Garden Club, Jamestown Plastics-Jay Baker, Janet Forbes in Memory of James Forbes, Jim and Rosie Joy-JM Joy Farms, and Butternut Brook Livestock-Michael and Shannon Carpenter.
Photo Caption: The cover of Sue Heavenrich’s and Chamisa Kellogg’s book, The Pie That Molly Grew, published during Agricultural Literacy Week in 2025.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) offers a variety of activities, including the 4-H Program. Operating under an administration and organizational structure authorized by Cornell University as an agent for the State of New York, CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate government entity with an educational mission. According to Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), it is exempt from taxes. The organization is a member of the nationwide cooperative extension system, which is a partnership between the federal, state, and local governments for education. The system in this state is administered by Cornell, a land grant institution in New York. Under the general supervision of Cornell, each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is a separate employer under the direction of an elected Board of Directors. Every association strives to fulfill state and national objectives in addition to the demands of the counties in which they are situated. Call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua for additional information. Equal employment and program opportunities are offered by Cornell University Cooperative Extension.
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