Contributed Photo Ann O’Leary, the 69th Alice in Dairyland, will be visiting several schools in and around Shawano County next week.
Ann O’Leary, Wisconsin’s 69th Alice in Dairyland, will lead interactive sessions with fourth-graders at several Shawano County schools next week.
The “Mapping out a Healthy Wisconsin” lessons were developed by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to teach students about the impact of agriculture in the state and to help them make healthy food choices.
The lively trivia game format quizzes students on 16 healthy food choices grown or produced in Wisconsin.
“We are enthusiastic about this proven educational program,” said Laura Wilford, director of the Wisconsin Dairy Council. “Mapping out a Healthy Wisconsin is a fun, action-packed fourth-grade classroom presentation. It’s structured to complement the basic grade level Wisconsin curriculum and to expand students’ knowledge about agriculture and nutrition”
The lessons also challenge students’ mathematical skills by teaching, for example, that the state’s dairy business generates $43.4 billion in annual economic activity and the dairy industry produces more than 600 varieties, types and styles of Wisconsin cheese.
In addition, students learn the health benefits of many of their favorite farm products such as milk, cranberries, potatoes and green beans.
O’Leary will visit Bowler Elementary, Tigerton Elementary, St. Paul Lutheran in Bonduel and Bonduel Elementary on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she will be at Birnamwood Elementary, Sacred Heart Catholic in Shawano and Gillett Elementary. She concludes her trip to Shawano County on Thursday with visits to St. James Lutheran in Shawano, Wittenberg Elementary and Gresham Elementary.