Connecting Students to Agriculture
Awarding Excellence in Agriculture Education
BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation applauds all BC teachers and educators for their continued efforts and dedication towards nurturing a curiosity and passion for agriculture in our youth. Since 2011, it has been our honour to recognize BC teachers who have been champions in agriculture education with our annual Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award. This year’s award is sponsored by DairyCrop.
And the Award Goes to...
The BCAITC Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award is open to teachers in the BC public, independent, and First Nations school systems. Nominees can be educators in K-12 BC Culinary Arts, Food Studies, Outdoor Studies, Environmental Science, and Life Science, as well as any other teachers whose classroom lessons touch upon agriculture and food.
We’re looking for nominees who contribute unique or excellent teaching tools, techniques, or curriculum content, and/or present ongoing professional development and opportunities to expand students’ and colleagues’ relationships to agriculture learning. Previous recipients of this award include teachers who introduced new agriculture technology programs, hosted agriculture career days, wrote agriculture into the school curriculum, or started their whole school on a garden project.
Nominate an Outstanding Teacher Now!
Nominations for the 2022 Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award are open from September 29 to December 1, 2022. If you know a teacher who has gone above and beyond to teach BC's agriculture and food story, we invite you to fill out this nomination form and email it to pat@aitc.ca by December 1, 2022.
Past Recipients of the Award
Previous recipients of the annual BCAITC Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award include: 2021 — Robin Ruff | 2020 — Gary Funk | 2019 — Monica Bradury | 2018 — Brian Smith | 2017 — Tania Toth | 2016 — Karla Stroet | 2015 — Patricia Regan| 2014 — Joe Massie | 2013 — Gerald Worobetz | 2012 — Lori Pilling | 2011 — Gail Chan and Trevor Randle.
Robin Ruff, 2021 Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award Recipient, Robin Ruff
2021 Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture - Robin Ruff
BCAITC is pleased to announce Robin Ruff as the recipient of the 2021 BCAITC Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award. The award was presented to Robin Ruff for demonstrating outstanding leadership and innovation in agriculture education. BCAITC has been presenting BC teachers with the award since 2004. Previous recipients have received the award for their work with the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program, Spuds in Tubs, Take a Bite of BC, school greenhouse programs, and an entire school approach to agriculture education.
A food studies teacher at Royal Bay Secondary, Ms. Ruff has been a leader in food literacy education for over a decade. Although she didn’t grow up on a farm, she fondly remembers the gardening lessons from her mother and grandfather. She pursued studies in biology and ecology with an emphasis on environmental education. She focusses on local agriculture, school gardens, and local food systems education. Ms. Ruff also honours Indigenous food cultures, traditions, and practices through place-based learning programs in a garden teaching space. Through her food studies class and collaboration with District teachers, Ms. Ruff leads both students and her colleagues to create, and expand local food education through school gardens, student film projects to meet and highlight local farms, and by increasing the amount of local food consumed in school.
Robin is always finding new and innovative ways to connect learners to the food grown near them through experiential learning. Ms. Ruff noted, “As the world grapples with the challenges of today, food is the touchstone that connects our physical, mental and emotional strength. It is what we need and worth investing in through teaching students to be mindful about what we eat, how it is grown and how it nourishes us.”
For her inspiration and leadership in agriculture education, BCAITC is pleased to recognize Robin Ruff with the Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture of the Year award.
Partners Make It Possible — Thank You!
Thank you to DairyCrop for sponsoring the annual Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture Award.
Join Us!
To find out how you or your business can support this exciting program, contact BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation or check out our Partnership Opportunities.
Teachers and Schools Ask the Best Questions
Any teacher who is currently teaching in the BC K-12 public, independent, or First Nations school system and holds a teaching certificate is eligible for this award.
We notify the winner of the annual award in early January of the following year.
