MANHATTAN, Kan. – April 16, 2026 – Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC) has been named a recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Award by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE). Awardees are nominated by their peers and recognized for outstanding innovation, leadership, achievement, and collaboration within and beyond the environmental education field. KFAC was recognized at the KACEE Awards Celebration on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas.
For more than four decades, KFAC has connected Kansas students with the state’s rich agricultural heritage while expanding awareness of conservation and environmental stewardship. Guided by its mission, Connecting Classrooms to Kansas Agriculture, KFAC now reaches all 105 Kansas counties, providing standards-based curriculum and hands-on learning opportunities that strengthen agricultural and environmental literacy. Through thoughtfully developed PreK-12 lesson plans spanning subjects from math and science to reading and art, KFAC equips teachers with resources aligned with state standards and grounded in science and real-world agricultural practices.
“Awards like this remind us that the work is being seen, and more importantly, that it is making a difference. We are grateful to KACEE for this recognition and grateful to every educator, volunteer, and supporter who make our work possible,” says Nancy Zenger-Beneda, KFAC Executive Director.
Central to KFAC’s success is its collaborative approach. Volunteer teachers develop curriculum with review and input from respected statewide partners, including KACEE, the Kansas Wheat Commission, and the Kansas Soybean Commission, among others. Beyond lesson plans, KFAC distributes free, twice-yearly classroom kits that include complete materials for hands-on activities. Since launching the kit initiative in 2022, KFAC’s K-12 kits have reached more than 810 schools — every county and school district in Kansas — more than 5,000 teachers, and more than 200,000 students. Notably, 82 percent of teachers who received kits in 2025 were new to the program, reflecting both the program’s growing reach and increasing demand for high-quality agricultural and environmental education resources.
In 2025, KFAC earned the National Agriculture in the Classroom Innovative Program Award for its Clickable Kansas County Map, a dynamic digital tool connecting educators with local agricultural experts and county-specific resources. Additional 2025 milestones include awarding seven Educator Mini-Grants, supporting 12 Kansas teachers’ attendance at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, and enhancing Agriland at the Kansas State Fair with a hands-on Gleaner combine cab exhibit.
As noted by KFAC Board Member, Jennifer Latzke, “I can tell you that our organization is incredibly blessed to have the leadership and vision of our two staff members, Nancy and Briana. Every day, they seek out opportunities for KFAC to reach more teachers and more students. They find volunteers with unique skills that can further our mission. They collaborate with our state’s agricultural groups and farmer-led organizations to improve the resources we offer.”
KFAC is pleased to accept this award from KACEE and looks forward to a strong, continued partnership in the future.
