Grants fuel agriculture literacy in Iowa schools

By Andi Anderson

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has launched its annual mini-grant program, offering Iowa educators up to $200 to create or expand projects focused on agricultural literacy.

These grants, supported by organizations like the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), aim to bring agriculture into the classroom, allowing students to see how agriculture affects their lives and the world.

With this support, teachers can enhance their lessons with hands-on activities, field trips, guest speakers, and classroom resources, all designed to promote agricultural knowledge.

IFBF community resources manager, Ronnette Vondrak, emphasized the importance of agricultural literacy, stating, “Understanding agriculture's impact is vital for students to appreciate its role in our state and beyond.”

IALF Executive Director Kelly Foss highlighted that these “Teacher Supplement Grants” reflect IALF’s mission to connect students with agriculture’s role in daily life. Over the past decade, IALF has awarded over $361,000 to teachers and classrooms across Iowa to further inspire students’ understanding of agriculture.

Previous grant projects have offered unique learning experiences, such as the creation of an apple orchard by students at Humboldt High School.

This initiative provided students hands-on knowledge about the orchard industry, horticulture, and food science while meeting Iowa Core Standards in plant anatomy and propagation.

Eligible applicants include teachers from preschool through grade 12, librarians, afterschool program coordinators, and homeschool assistance programs. Projects must align with subjects like social studies, science, math, language arts, or 21st-century skills, integrating agriculture into learning.

Applications for the grant are open until November 30, 2024, and funded projects must take place between January 13 and June 7, 2025. Educators interested in applying or learning more about the grant can visit the IALF website at https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/tools-resources/general/grants.

With these grants, the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation is investing in the future, helping students build a strong understanding of agriculture’s role in society and inspiring them to explore potential careers in this vital field.

Photo Credit: shutterstock-alex-brylov