Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom named Mary Cooper, middle school science and STEAM teacher at St. Mary School in Richland Center, as the 2026 Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher Award recipient.
The award recognizes educators who creatively integrate agriculture into their curriculum and help students understand the connections between agriculture, food, natural resources, and everyday life.
Cooper has built a vibrant culture of agricultural literacy at St. Mary School by weaving agriculture into science, STEM, literacy, and schoolwide learning experiences. Her innovative approach includes student-led agricultural STEM challenges, cross-grade mentoring programs, and hands-on activities that help students explore topics such as soil health, pollinators, food systems, and sustainable agriculture.
Through her leadership, students not only learn about agriculture; they teach it. Middle school students regularly design and lead lessons for younger students, guiding activities on topics like composting, plant science, and food production. These experiences build leadership skills while strengthening agricultural knowledge across the entire school community.
Cooper also leads annual all-school STEM challenges centered on agricultural literacy books, bringing together students from preschool through eighth grade to solve real-world problems using the engineering design process. Projects have included designing pollinator bee houses and exploring the science of food production.
Growing up on a dairy farm in southeast Wisconsin and studying agriculture at UW-River Falls helped shape Cooper’s passion for teaching students about agriculture and sustainability. She is also a Notre Dame STEM Fellow and serves as a Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Educator Ambassador, where she shares resources and professional learning opportunities with teachers across the state.
“Mary exemplifies what agricultural literacy looks like when it becomes part of a school’s culture,” says Wisconsin AITC Coordinator Beth Schaefer. “Her ability to connect agriculture with science, leadership, and real-world learning experiences has had a meaningful impact on students and fellow educators alike.”
In addition to her classroom work, Cooper actively promotes agricultural literacy among colleagues by organizing professional development resources, presenting at educator conferences, and helping teachers incorporate agriculture across subject areas.
