Laramie Classrooms Welcome UW AG
From March 2 to 6, members of the University of Wyoming Collegiate Farm Bureau visited elementary classrooms throughout Laramie. They took part in the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Ag Books for Kids program, which helps young students learn about agriculture across the state.
Each spring, volunteers visit schools to read a children’s book about agriculture, food, or rural life. This year, they chose “The Kindergarten Cowman” by Amanda Radke, which teaches young readers about caring for cattle and ranch life. UW students read the book in several classrooms and led a craft activity to help students remember the story.
During the week, Collegiate Farm Bureau members visited Indian Paintbrush, Harmony, Linford and Spring Creek Elementary schools, as well as Laramie Montassari School, reaching hundreds of students. Volunteers walked students through the story, answered questions about ranching and helped them see how the book relates to agriculture in Wyoming.
“I wanted to take part in this event because getting agriculture back in this classroom is really important,” Cannon Lockrem, UW Farm Bureau member said. “Being able to be a role model for the future generation meant a lot to me.”
After the book was read, students created ear tag keychains, modeled after the identification tags used for cattle. The craft allowed them to personalize their own “tag” with names or numbers, providing a hands‑on activity that directly linked to the book’s content.
Volunteers explained how ranchers use ear tags to track animals, monitor health and maintain accurate herd records, offering students a practical example of how livestock management works in the real world.
Ag Books for Kids is one of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation’s oldest education programs. It provides teachers with free resources, such as activity sheets and information about Wyoming agriculture. Every year, volunteers from all over the state help students learn about the people and work involved in producing food.
This project provides an opportunity to engage with the Laramie community. Collegiate Farm Bureau members represent a range of majors within the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, and many plan to pursue careers in livestock production, agricultural education, or industry outreach. Participating in Ag Books for Kids allows them to share their knowledge with younger audiences while strengthening connections between campus and local schools.
“My favorite part of the event was how engaged the kids were while I was reading to them,” Cannon Lockrem said. “The cowtag craft was fun because we got to see the kids creativity.”
The book “The Kindergarten Cowman” was picked because it highlights responsibility, animal care and daily ranch routines. These topics are important in Wyoming, where agriculture is a big part of life. The story covers things like feeding, branding, and caring for calves in a way that young students can understand.
The UW Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter participates in Ag Books for Kids each year and has become more involved lately. Members work with local teachers, plan classroom visits and get craft materials ready. They also team up with the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation to ensure each classroom receives a copy of the book to keep.
Outside of this weeklong program, Collegiate Farm Bureau members also take part in other outreach activities during the year, like agricultural education events, community service and professional development.
Ag Books for Kids continues to grow statewide, with volunteers visiting schools in every county. The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation reports that the program reaches thousands of students annually, helping bridge the gap between rural and urban communities and fostering early understanding of where food comes from.
In Laramie, UW students help connect the university with local classrooms. Their involvement shows how the university supports community education and helps prepare future leaders in agriculture.
“I really hope the students learned something about agriculture and went home to tell their parents,” Aspen Gair, UW Farm Bureau Vice President said. “I hope the book was relatable for students who live on a farm or ranch in Laramie. It is definitely hard to have to leave your animals to go to school.”
Now that the program has wrapped up for the year, teachers keep classroom copies of “The Kindergarten Cowman” so they can return to its themes and keep talking about Wyoming agriculture. The ear tag keychains, now hanging from backpacks and jackets around town, remind students of what they learned and the volunteers who made it possible.
