MDA Agricultural Literacy Grants Available

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation are offering grants up to $500 to help students learn about agriculture. This is a public private partnership with the goal of providing educational experiences about agriculture and our entire food system. The grants can go to K-12 teachers, FFA Chapters and 4-H clubs in Minnesota.

Some examples of expenses that would be eligible including field trips to working farms and ag business, or even buying supplies and supporting Ag Day events. The grant can even be used to "fund new ideas as well as enhancements to current curricula/activities." Grant applications are due by November 15, 2021 and they will be reviewed by a grant review committee. The deadline to apply is approaching quickly, November 15, 2021.

The partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom was established in 1985. The major goal is to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. You may think that communities in rural areas like Faribault students would understand how food ends up in grocery stores.

Area farmer Brent Fuchs and I have visited the third grade classes in Faribault for many years. Typically in a class of 25 students only a couple have ever been on a farm, let alone have the opportunity to be growing up on a farm. That explains the need for agricultural education in K-12 doesn't it? The grant applications are available on the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom website.