为了庆祝艾伯塔省的农业并突出教育工作者在推进农业教育方面的奉献精神，詹姆斯芙劳尔高中的鲁帕·帕特尔（Roopa Patel）被选为今年的农业生活优秀农业教师奖得主。

鲁帕认为，让城市环境中的烹饪艺术学生了解从农场到餐桌的食品方面，并让学生考虑农业的众多职业非常重要。

鲁帕说：“虚拟农场参观和园艺俱乐部是农业生活的宝贵资源的例子，它们丰富了我的学生的学习经验。”鲁帕说：“这些虚拟体验让烹饪艺术课程生动起来 - 无论是学习加拿大BC省的番茄是如何生长的，还是在艾伯塔省工作的牛场，或者加拿大东海岸的苹果园。”

鲁帕的学生还通过参加农业生活园艺俱乐部学会了如何在学校的庭院里种植食物，帮助学生对新鲜食物的可持续性进行批判性思考。

鲁帕说：“对我个人而言，作为一直生活在城市环境中的人，农业生活通过带我直接到食物的源头丰富了我的食品知识，使我能够与我的学生一起学习。”鲁帕说：“丰富我的学习知识，并且受到这个奖项的荣誉继续点燃了我教学中的火花！”

In celebration of Alberta agriculture and highlighting the dedication of educators in advancing agriculture education, James Fowler High School's Roopa Patel has been selected to receive this year's Ag for Life Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award.

Roopa believes it is important for culinary arts students from urban settings to learn about the farm to fork aspects of food and getting students to consider the numerous occupations in agriculture. 

“Virtual farm tours and the gardening club are examples of valuable Agriculture for Life resources that have augmented learning experiences for my students," says Roopa. “These virtual experiences bring culinary arts classes to life – whether its learning how tomatoes are grown in BC, working cattle ranches in Alberta or an apple orchard on the East coast of Canada."

Roopa's students have also been learning how to grow food in the school's courtyard by participating in the Agriculture for Life's gardening club, helping students to think critically about sustainability as it relates to fresh food.

“For me personally, as someone who has always lived in urban environments,  Agriculture for Life has enriched my knowledge of food by taking me right to its sources  enabling me to learn with my students," says Roopa. “Adding to my learning repertoire and being honoured with this award continues to kindle a spark for my teaching!"​​​
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