A fifth-grade teacher at Whittemore-Prescott Elementary School in Iosco County is your 2026 Michigan Farm Bureau Educator of the Year.
Kelli Rau “exemplifies the mission of the award through her creative and sustained efforts to integrate agriculture, environmental awareness, and real-world learning into her classroom and school community,” said Michigan Farm Bureau’s Katie Weber, county administrative manager of Ogemaw County Farm Bureau.
“She has gone beyond standard curriculum expectations to design and implement hands-on, agriculture-focused learning experiences that align with educational standards while encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship among her students,” added Weber, who nominated Rau.
The Michigan Farm Bureau Educator of the Year Award recognizes a teacher who goes above and beyond to incorporate agriculture and natural resource concepts into classroom learning. Nominated by their county Farm Bureau, recipients demonstrate innovative ways to help students understand the vital role agriculture plays in their daily lives.
At Whittemore-Prescott Elementary, Rau has helped transform her school into a living classroom where agriculture and natural resource concepts are part of everyday learning. In addition to utilizing Michigan Ag in the Classroom Farm Crate lessons, she has established a school garden, implemented lunchroom waste composting, incorporated embryology and lake sturgeon education, and developed a month-long agricultural education program for elementary students.
She also created “Try Day Fridays,” a school-wide initiative that develops Michigan agricultural commodity kits for 17 elementary classrooms. Each month, students learn about a different Michigan commodity through educational materials, agriculture-themed books, and taste-testing experiences paired with student tasting journals. The program provides an engaging, hands-on way for students to explore where their food comes from and better understand the agricultural systems that produce it.
In recognition of her achievements, Rau will receive a grant to attend National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference as well as a $500 classroom grant from the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture sponsored by AgroLiquid.
Sponsorship for this award is provided by the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors, which positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming.