“I Love NY Agriculture” License Plate Celebrates NY Agriculture and Helps Support 

NY Agriculture in the Classroom

Last year, State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine bought a new bale wrapper at the beginning of springtime for his farm in Cape Vincent, NY.

The spring before, he bought a bale processor.

This spring, Commissioner Aubertine has decided to get away from bale-related purchases all together.  Last week, the Commissioner purchased a new item for the pickup truck he so proudly drives around his farm.

“I love my pickup truck and I love New York agriculture - now I get the best of both worlds,” said Commissioner Aubertine.  “Last week I went on the DMV website and purchased my very own ‘I Love NY Agriculture’ license plate.  Not only is it a sharp looking license plate that reflects my own love of agriculture here in New York State, but it helps support a great cause.”

The “I Love New York Agriculture” license plate, also known as the “Agriculture in the Classroom” plate, is available for both passenger and commercial vehicles and can be ordered in person at any Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, by telephone at 518-402-4838 or online at dmv.ny.gov/cplates.htm.  The initial fee is $53.75 and the annual fee of $25 is in addition to the standard registration renewal fee.  This $25 annual fee supports the New York State Agriculture in the Classroom program.

New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell University, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and New York Farm Bureau.  The program works with pre-K through middle school teachers, Cornell Cooperative Extension and other community educators, farmers and producers, volunteers, parents, and community partners to increase agricultural literacy in New York State.

NYAITC supports a number of agricultural education programs throughout the year, including: Agricultural Literacy Week, Kids Growing Food, an Art and Writing Contest, and Educator Workshops.  To find out how you can get involved in Agriculture in the Classroom, call (607) 255-9253 or email NYAITC@cornell.edu.

DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala said, “I am delighted that Commissioner Aubertine has chosen to put an ‘I Love NY Agriculture’ license plate on his vehicle.  Not only will this plate demonstrate the Commissioner’s justified pride in the state’s agriculture, but it will also benefit the New York Agriculture in the Classroom’s educational activities.  It doesn’t get any better than that!!!”

Katie Bigness, Coordinator of New York Agriculture in the Classroom said, “New York Agriculture in the Classroom is proud to be able to use the funds generated by the Agriculture in the Classroom license plate to promote, celebrate, and educate students across New York about agriculture. As our students are becoming further removed from the farm and agricultural production, our program is growing in necessity. The funds generated from the license plate allow us to train more teachers how to integrate agriculture into their curriculum, and allows hundreds of students the chance to participate in food production themselves through in-school activities and school gardens.”

Ann Peck, Promotion and Education Chair of New York Farm Bureau said, “The specialty New York license plate is just one more way people in this state can support their local farms.  The Agriculture in the Classroom program serves to educate our young people about where their food comes and increases their appreciation of a way of life that benefits their communities in many ways.”

To find out more about the NYAITC program, please visit http://www.agclassroom.org/ny/index.htm.  

To order an “I Love NY Agriculture” plate or to see the variety of custom plates offered by the DMV, go to http://dmv.ny.gov/cplates.htm.