From A(gronomy) to Z(oonosis), the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is going back to basics for National Agriculture Week March 20 – 26, a celebration of agriculture.

The college will be sharing its new “ABC’s of Agriculture” poster with teachers, community groups and stakeholders. The print will be mailed, free of charge, but organizers do hope onlookers pay attention.

“This week is all about sparking interest and celebrating the many areas of the industry,” said Wayne Centers, director of student relations in the college. “And while 26 characters could never fully summarize everything agriculture has to offer, we hope this poster inspires folks to consider just how foundational agriculture is across life and environmental sciences.”

The week overlaps with Lexington Water Week, which is supported by the City of Lexington, the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute and CAFE. The Ag Week schedule cross-promotes several water events, such as the stream buffers webinar for landowners, and supporters say this overlap is perfectly fitting.

"With Kentucky’s many miles of streams and rivers and many acres of farmland, agriculture and water are intricately connected across the state,” said Amanda Gumbert, water quality specialist for the UK Cooperative Extension Service. “Our farmers play a vital role in protecting our soil and water resources for long-term productivity and sustainability.”

The week kicks off with a charity bike ride March 20 hosted by the UK Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Proceeds will benefit The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky, a student-powered organization dedicated to reducing food waste and eliminating food insecurity. Several educational events continue the week’s lineup, including the 4th annual Kentucky Local Foods Summit, career fairs, a farm-to-fork lunch from the Campus Kitchen, a tree mulching class, thank-a-farmer opportunities, information for students and potential students on possible majors and much more.

To view the week’s events or request an ABC’s of Agriculture poster, visit go.uky.edu/agweek.