I’m excited to share the Agricultural Mechanics Cookbook, a resource created to provide Illinois agriculture teachers with practical lesson ideas, activities, and resources that can be used in agricultural mechanics courses.

The cookbook includes resources covering shop management and safety, tools and measurement, power systems, construction, electricity, welding and metal fabrication, land management and surveying, careers, and other agricultural mechanics skills.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who submitted lessons, activities, ideas, and resources for the cookbook! This resource would not have been possible without agriculture teachers being willing to share what works in their classrooms and shops. As a small thank-you, the names of everyone who submitted an item were entered into a random drawing for agricultural mechanics supplies for their shop. Congratulations to Mr. Nick James, our drawing winner! Thank you again to everyone who contributed and helped make this resource possible.

The goal is simple: give teachers more ready-to-use ideas and help us continue learning from one another. Feel free to download it, use what works for your program, and share it with others!

I hope you find something in it that makes planning a little easier or sparks a new idea for your ag mechanics classes!