Read ME Agriculture
March 16 - 20, 2026
Interested in being a Volunteer Reader? Register now!
Soil & Water Conservation Districts across Maine collaborate with Maine Agriculture in the Classroom all year long, but for one special week each spring, volunteer readers bring a specially chosen ag-themed book into PreK - 4th grade classrooms.
The 2026 program, which runs March 16 – 20 during National Ag Week, features the book I LOVE Blueberries written by Shannon Anderson and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett. Every classroom that participates will receive a copy of the book and an accompanying educator's guide, with aligned classroom activities and resources.
Please register by Tuesday, January 19, to participate.
Classrooms may choose their own reader or request a volunteer reader. To best serve the hundreds of classrooms that participate in Read ME Ag each year, the 2026 program will continue to be a hybrid model where classrooms may opt for either an in-person visit or a virtual reading. Teachers may sign up their own classroom, or schools may choose a single point-of-contact to register multiple classrooms.
Questions? Contact cindy@knox-lincoln.org
Jolie LOVES blueberries and is determined to grow her own using hydroponics with her new friend Margot.
Told through Jolie’s comical scrapbook-style journal entries and Margot’s creative sketchbook, young readers will learn how they create a plan and work together to not only grow blueberries but also develop a new friendship. This heartwarming story emphasizes the value of friendship, a theme that will resonate with young readers.
With the help of Jolie’s faithful rabbit, Munchy, and Margot’s dog, Pip, plans are underway to bring the whole class together to convince the community to help them set up a hydroponics growing station in their classroom.
Volunteer for Read ME Ag 2026
Volunteer readers sign up to read the selected book and do a short activity to one or more Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms in Knox and/or Lincoln counties during Read ME Ag Week (March 16-20).
There will be an in-person orientation at the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District office in Rockport in late February, when you will also pick up your books and materials.
Please register to read by February 6, 2026 so we can match you with a school!
MAITC program Read ME Ag brings volunteer readers into classrooms (virtually or in-person) to read an agriculture-themed book. Teachers receive a copy of the book and the accompanying educator’s guide, with aligned classroom activities.
About Read ME Ag
Read "ME" Agriculture has reached more than 100,000 Maine students since 2008, and almost 900 classrooms annually. During Ag Week, volunteers read and give books about agriculture to Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms. They tell the students about their farms, programs, or connections to agriculture and leave lessons and information for the teachers to use, all supplied by Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC).
Funding for this project is a direct result of the Maine agricultural specialty license plate and grants from USDA.
