Illuminating Agriculture

National Agriculture in the Classroom 2026 Conference
June 22-25, 2026 | Providence, Rhode Island

Event Details

 


Venue
The 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom conference will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

 


Workshops
Explore popular, hands-on workshops to build a deeper understanding and engagement in the classroom.

 


Networking
Meet fellow educators from across the nation who are passionate about agricultural literacy.

 

Conference Speakers

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.

Ashley Randall

Ashley E. Randle
Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Ashley E. Randle was appointed the twenty-first and first female Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).

Ashley was born and raised on a fifth-generation dairy farm, Indian Acres, in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, where her passion for agriculture and advocacy was first sparked. Ashley obtained her B.S. in Applied Economics & Management and Animal Science from Cornell University in 2011, and her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University School of Law in 2014. She is a licensed Massachusetts attorney.

Upon graduating from law school in 2014, she launched her career in government with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, tasked with the research and development of a sustainable recognition program for the Maine farming community. Prior to joining the MDAR team, Ashley worked for the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) and served as Member Services Director, engaging in public policy work for the dairy industry and building relationships among industry members. Ashley began her career at MDAR in 2018, serving as Deputy Commissioner/Legislative and Policy Director.

Ashley currently serves as the President of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA) and Secretary/Treasurer for Food Export-Northeast. She resides in Sterling, MA with her husband and remains actively involved in the dairy industry.

 

Ananda Fraser Ramirez

Ananda Fraser Ramirez
Acting Chief, Rhode Island Agriculture and Forest Environment

Ananda Fraser Ramirez joined the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment in 2018 to head its Produce Safety Program. As the Program Coordinator, Ananda serves as the FDA Cooperate Agreement Program Principal Investigator & Rhode Island Produce Safety Program Coordinator responsible for overseeing all aspects of Program Development including education/outreach, inspections, compliance, and enforcement components of this regulation.

She expanded her portfolio as a Environmental Policy Analyst II within the Division of Agriculture and in addition to her Produce Safety portfolio managed several grant programs within the Division that bring safe, locally produced food to the residents of Rhode Island and ensures that food system remains strong and viable for years to come. Ananda serves on several national committees and workgroups related to the regional food system, food safety and food borne illness outbreak response.

She now serves as Acting Chief of Agriculture and Forest Environment. She is a proud graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Marine Affairs. She also received her Master’s in Environmental Science Management with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Rhode Island.

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Jason Evans

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Jason Evans
Dean, College of Food Innovation and Technology at Johnson & Wales University

Jason Evans is Dean of the College of Food Innovation and Technology (CFIT) at Johnson & Wales University, which offers baccalaureate and graduate programming in Culinary Arts, Culinary Science, Culinary Nutrition, Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Food Systems.

Formerly, Dr. Evans was an Associate Professor of Agricultural Business Management at the State University of New York’s College of Agriculture and Technology, Cobleskill (SUNY Cobleskill), where he also served as the Director of the Institute for Rural Vitality and Chair of the Department of Agriculture & Food Management. Before joining the SUNY Cobleskill faculty in 2009, Dr. Evans was an Assistant Research Professor at West Virginia University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics in 2007.

 

Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 8:00 a.m.

Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Children's Book Author

Jacqueline Briggs Martin is an award-winning children’s book author whose work celebrates curiosity, nature, and the people who grow our food. Her books include "Snowflake Bentley", winner of the Caldecott Medal, and the “Food Heroes” series published by Readers to Eaters, including "Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table" and her newest, "Farmer Eva’s Green Garden Life".

She grew up on a dairy farm in Maine, an experience that continues to shape her storytelling. She lives in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Her forthcoming co-authored picture book, "Kimchi Taco Time" (Fall 2026), celebrates family, flavor, and shared meals.

 

June Jo Lee

June Jo Lee
Food Ethnographer, Author, and Cultural Strategist

June Jo Lee is a food ethnographer, author, and cultural strategist studying the emotional, social, and sensory dimensions of eating. From Korean kimchi factories to consumer kitchens and Google canteens, her work explores how food shapes identity, culture, and shared futures.

She is the co-author of award-winning picture books "Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix" (2017) and "Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild" (2022). Her forthcoming picture book, "Kimchi Taco Time" (Fall 2026), co-authored with Jacqueline Briggs Martin, invites children to try more, taste more, feel more, and grow their flavor worlds through one joyful bite.

 

National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference

The premier agricultural literacy conference.