WEST MEMPHIS — Arkansas Farm Bureau has named Jennifer Smith, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Richland Elementary School in West Memphis, the 2008 Ag-in-the-Classroom Teacher of the Year.

“This is a real honor; it feels wonderful,” said Smith, after receiving the award at a special school assembly April 28.

Arkansas Farm Bureau presents the award each year to teachers who integrate agricultural concepts into their regular curricula to educate students about how agriculture fits into their daily lives.

For the past two years, on a small patch of grass behind the school’s cafeteria, Smith and her students have maintained a garden. Planting and tending everything from cotton to watermelons, the students have learned math and science in a fun, hands-on way.

For example, while planning the garden, students had to calculate the area and perimeter of their plot to determine how much herbicide to use. Likewise, students used leaves from their garden to explain and illustrate the process of photosynthesis.

In addition to math and science, students have learned about agriculture and the amount of work it takes to produce food.

“This process makes students aware of what they’re eating … and wasting,” Smith said. “Kids today are used to everything being right there in from of them. But, you wouldn’t believe how hard these kids work when they get out there with their shovels.”

Particularly proud of Smith and the success of her garden project is Gwen Looney, Richland Elementary School principal.

“I was simply amazed at how she [Smith] took a few seeds and turned them into a phenomenal learning experience for our fifth graders,” she said. “Since we live in the Delta, where farming is a way of life for many of our children, I found this project extremely important in teaching our children the art of farming, the impact it can have on our economy, as well as showing them just how important the farmers of America are to our existence.”

For her achievement, Smith receives an expense-paid trip to represent Arkansas at the National Ag-in-the-Classroom Conference, June 25-28 in Costa Mesa, Calif.