The Verizon Foundation has donated $4,500 to the New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education, which will be used to develop a new farm-themed coloring book for kids.

"We're grateful to Verizon for their help in getting this project funded for the benefit of school children across the state," said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau. "These coloring books will be an excellent promotional tool for our entire industry."

"Color Your Way from A to Z in Agriculture" will focus on the diversity of agricultural production in New York State. The coloring books will be available for use at public events as well as school and community functions.

"The Verizon Foundation has a long history of supporting educational programs," said Verizon vice president of Government and External Affairs David Lamendola. "The Farm Bureau's coloring books are an innovative way to teach New York children about agriculture in their State. We're proud to be able to support this project."

"Educating our young people about our farms and where their food comes is extremely important because as consumers, young people need to have an understanding of the value of local agriculture and the care put into producing the food they eat," said Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the only active farmer in the state Legislature. "These coloring books will help drive home the point for children throughout the state that the foods they love come from our farms, not the grocery store. I want to thank Verizon for this grant to help the Farm Bureau in its ongoing mission to promote agriculture and be a voice for our farmers."

"Agricultural education is so vital for our children in New York State and must continue to be a part of their learning experience. I'm optimistic that the coloring books will help our children value and acknowledge agriculture, as well as, demonstrate to others how important the agriculture industry is in our state,"

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair, Bill Magee, said, "Agricultural education is so vital for our children in New York State and must continue to be a part of their learning experience. I'm optimistic that the coloring books will help our children value and acknowledge agriculture, as well as demonstrate to others how important the agriculture industry is in our state."

"Currently, there are no agricultural pieces available for distribution to our younger consumers," said Sandra Prokop, managing director, New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education.

"These coloring books will help give kids an increased understanding and appreciation of agriculture," Prokop said.

The coloring books will be available in 2010.

This is the second year in a row that Verizon has donated to the Foundation. Last year, the company donated $4,500 to help fund on online teacher lesson plan about the agriculture industry in New York State.