An Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation Program
Building readers. Growing agricultural literacy.


March 1, 2026

Every March, the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) leads Read Across Iowa, an annual statewide program that delivers professionally published, agriculture-themed books and classroom-ready resources to Iowa schools. Through engaging stories and hands-on lessons, students strengthen literacy skills while building a deeper understanding of agriculture, food systems, and Iowa's role in feeding and fueling the world.

IALF provides 1,000 free kits to Iowa classrooms and education programs each year, helping educators connect reading to real-world learning in science, social studies, and beyond.


2026 Theme: Pollinators to Product

Pollinators to Product highlights the essential role pollinators play in agriculture and connects their work to the food, fiber, and everyday products students know and use. Students explore questions like:

  • Why do pollinators matter to farmers and gardeners?
  • How do pollinators support fruits, vegetables, and seeds?
  • What products depend on pollination and plant science?
  • How can people support pollinators in their communities?


What's in the 2026 Read Across Iowa Kit?

Each Pollinators to Product kit includes a curated set of professionally published books plus resources designed to help educators teach agriculture through literacy.

Books included in the kit

  • My Family's Soybean Farm by Katie Olthoff
  • Flower Talk by Sara Levine
  • The Beeman by Laurie Krebs
  • From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
  • Wax to Crayon by Inez Snyder
  • Bailey the Bee from the Iowa State University Extension & Outreach/Integrated Pest Management

Additional Resources

  • Additional educator resources that connect literacy + science + agriculture.
  • Read-aloud tips and lesson ideas.
  • Seeds and hands-on extensions.
  • Upcoming virtual events:
    • Recording of Informational Webinar held on January 22 for Teachers and Ag in the Classroom Coordinators. Webinar Link
    • More webinars to be announced in the coming weeks

Who Can Request a Kit?
Read Across Iowa kits are available to Iowa educators and libraries while supplies last.

Kits are limited to 1,000 total and available while supplies last.

This program is designed to support:

  • Iowa teachers and school staff.
  • School librarians and media specialists.
  • Ag in the Classroom coordinators supporting local programming.

How to Participate

Step 1: Request your kit (while supplies last).
Step 2: Choose how you'll use it: classroom read-alouds, STEM connections, library displays, or cross-curricular units.
Step 3: Bring Pollinators to Product to life in March (anytime that works in your schedule).

Request Your Kit

Educator Resources (More Coming)

Why IALF Leads Read Across Iowa 

Read Across Iowa is a signature education program of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF), designed to provide Iowa classrooms with professionally published, agriculture-themed books and classroom resources. Each year, IALF distributes 1,000 free agriculture literacy kits to schools across the state, helping students strengthen reading skills while building a deeper understanding of agriculture, food systems, and Iowa's role in feeding and fueling the world. Through Read Across Iowa, IALF connects literacy, science, and real-world agriculture concepts to increase agricultural literacy among Iowa students using high-quality children's literature.

Reading is a powerful way to introduce complex, real-world topics, especially in agriculture. Through stories and informational texts, students can explore where food comes from, how it is produced, and why agriculture matters to Iowa's economy, environment, and communities.

By pairing professionally published books with agriculture-focused lessons and hands-on extensions, Read Across Iowa helps students:

  • Build background knowledge about agriculture and food systems.
  • Strengthen reading comprehension through high-interest topics.
  • Make real-world connections to science, the environment, and Iowa communities.
  • Explore agriculture-related careers and the systems behind everyday products.

Read Across Iowa reflects IALF's mission to equip educators with tools that increase agricultural literacy, using literacy as a bridge between students and agriculture.

Share Your Impact

We love seeing how educators bring Read Across Iowa to life. Share photos or stories and tag IALF on our social channels.

Read Across Iowa Shirts

Are you excited about Read Across Iowa? Now you can show it off year-round with this commemorative T-shirt! Shirts are printed locally here in Iowa. Learn more and order yours at the link below.

Order Your Shirt!

About Read Across Iowa

Read Across Iowa is a signature education initiative of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, delivered in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa 4-H Youth Development. Books and materials are supported in part by funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Specialty Crop Block Grant, Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University (Dean of Human Sciences, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources), and other valued partners of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.            

          

            

Questions and media inquiries can be directed to info@iowaagliteracy.org.

Many thanks to our sponsors for helping make this event possible!