Kruse Outstanding Teacher Award

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) has announced Marie Kruse of Lake City as the recipient of their 2026 Outstanding Teacher Award.

This honor recognizes K-12 educators in Minnesota who creatively integrate agriculture into their classroom curriculum. 

For more than 20 years, Kruse has brought her passion for agriculture into her kindergarten classroom at Bluff View Elementary in Lake City, helping young learners understand the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives. 

Her creative agriculture-focused learning experiences extend beyond the classroom and into the community—from participation in the Midwest Dairy Adopt-a-Calf program to organizing a Farm Machinery Parade to kick off her school’s agriculture-themed “I Love to Read” Month. 

In addition to the state-level award, Kruse was also recognized as one of six Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award winners by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization.

She will receive a $500 stipend, with travel expenses covered, to attend the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, on Wednesday, June 24th.