Hoschton, GA |
In a vibrant first-grade classroom at West Jackson Elementary, the seeds of curiosity are planted not just in minds—but in soil. Rows of tomatoes, basil, and peppers line the school’s outdoor garden, where students learn lessons that stretch far beyond textbooks.
At the heart of it all is Dr. Stephanie Westhafer, who believes agriculture isn’t just an elective—it’s essential.
“It isn’t just about us planting and tending for the garden,” said Dr. Stephanie Westhafer. “It’s actually something that connects with where their food comes from and the things that they see as they drive to school. Like, we’re fortunate out here that even though we do have the sprawl coming, we still see cows on the way to school and crops growing in fields. And so this was something that I knew would be relatable to them.”
That hands-on, real-world connection is why Westhafer was named the 2025 Georgia Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
Her students call it their “pizza garden,” a year-long inquiry-based project that begins with a simple question: How can we maintain a seasonal garden to provide food for our school and community? Through that lens, students explore science, math, literacy—and yes, agriculture—all through one of their favorite foods.
“When I introduced that last year, I said, ‘Guys, I really want to plant a pizza garden.’ And I kind of got looks like… pizza garden?” Westhafer recalled with a laugh. “They were imagining little slices of pizza growing on a vine. But I asked, ‘Do you even know where your pizza comes from?’ And from there, we started exploring—what’s on a pizza, what can we grow, and how does dairy tie in? We even made mozzarella cheese and connected it to our adopted calf and dairy farming.”
Principal Lori King says Westhafer’s energy and commitment are unmatched.
“She loves to learn. She’s a lifelong learner,” said Lori King, principal at West Jackson Elementary. “She implements everything she picks up and engages every single student—and their families, too. Parents are constantly in her classroom, involved and excited about what their kids are learning. She’s just beyond amazing.”
That community buy-in is part of what makes her work so impactful. Whether it’s vermicomposting, healthy cooking, or literacy instruction, Westhafer embeds agriculture into nearly every subject area.
“Reading isn’t its own thing,” Westhafer emphasized. “Reading is something we do to absorb information about science and social studies. It’s immersed in everything we do. And Georgia Ag in the Classroom really focuses on that kind of integrated learning, which is so powerful.”
And it’s that integrated, hands-on style that helps even reluctant learners find their place.
“She brings excitement,” said King. “For kids who maybe don’t love writing or don’t come from a gardening background, she pulls them in through energy and purpose. Once they become hands-on problem solvers, they’re invested.”
For Westhafer, the garden is more than a teaching tool—it’s a place where students find pride in their accomplishments.
“They’ll say, ‘Wow, that was hard, but I did it. And I’m proud of it,’” she said. “And seeing a kid say that they’re proud of something they did—not a test score, but something they grew or made or solved—that’s life-changing.”
By: Ray D’Alessio