Corn, Classrooms, and Renewable Energy

In Nebraska classrooms, students are discovering that the corn they see growing in fields across the state fuels more than just people and livestock. It is also a key component in one of Nebraska’s largest renewable energy industries.  

As the nation’s second-largest ethanol producer, Nebraska creates more than 2 billion gallons of ethanol each year, making it a major part of the state’s agricultural economy. Helping students understand how ethanol is made and why it matters is part of the work being done through the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program.

Through hands-on activities tied to state education standards, AITC educators visit classrooms across Nebraska to help students connect agriculture to their daily lives, also providing teachers with free resources that make those connections meaningful and memorable. Topics like ethanol and renewable energy are woven throughout many of the program’s lesson sand resources, helping students to explore the science, technology, and real-world impact behind Nebraska’s renewable fuels industry. During the 2025-2026school year, AITC completed a record-setting 1,102 classroom visits and reached19,717 students across the state, showing the growing demand for agriculture education in Nebraska schools.

One fourth grade lesson, “Farm to Fuel,” gives students a closer look at the role ethanol plays in Nebraska agriculture and the future of renewable energy. Students take part in a fermentation experiment to model part of the ethanol production process and learn about each step of ethanol’s journey from corn fields to gas pumps. The lesson also introduces students to the many products and co-products connected to ethanol production, showing how the industry creates value beyond the fuel itself.  

By bringing renewable fuel education directly into classrooms, AITC is helping the next generation better understand the innovation happening within Nebraska agriculture and the important role ethanol continues to play in the state’s economy and future. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is grateful for its partnership with Renewable Fuels Nebraska in supporting agriculture and renewable fuel education in classrooms across the state. To learn more about AITC and explore free classroom resources, visit www.nefbfoundation.com.