The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation is making mini-grants available to support the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction or afterschool programs with an academic focus.

“The outcomes are so diverse and fantastic. This project allows students to learn more about farming, technology, STEM and literacy,” says 2019 grant recipient Sara Lawrence. With “hands-on learning —and not learning in front of a screen — and experiencing trial and error to go to the next step, students learn ways to fix the problem.”

VISITING A FARM: When students see and experience livestock and crop production firsthand, they gain a better understanding of agriculture.  

The Ag in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants, made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau, are designed to help Iowa teachers initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy in students. Teachers can apply for $250 grants that can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects. Up to 175 grants will be awarded to teachers throughout Iowa.

Teachers encouraged to apply

One of last year’s grant recipients, Jennifer Mauro, says, “For many of the children, this was their first exposure to growing something from a seed and understanding how the food we eat starts out as something so small. They were so excited to watch this natural process from the very start.”

Preschool through 12th grade teachers, librarians and afterschool program coordinators at Iowa schools are eligible to apply. Grants must relate to social studies, science, math, language arts or 21st century skills, and integrate agriculture into the learning.

“We see this as a valuable resource for teachers because it allows them to connect what they are doing in the classrooms to Iowa’s No. 1 industry,” says Farm Bureau’s community resources manager, Ronnette Vondrak. “Ag in the Classroom and agriculture literacy has been an area of emphasis for the Iowa Farm Bureau for many years.”

The deadline to apply is Jan. 10, and the proposed project must take place between Jan. 15 and June 5. To apply online or for more information, visit iowaagliteracy.org. 

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