WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – 1/27/2025 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded nearly 120 grants to schools across Iowa to bolster the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction and after-school programs with an academic focus.

The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects and/or expand upon existing programs that promote agriculture literacy for students. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects. Teachers received up to $200 to fund their projects.

Grant recipient, Ashley Langel of Gehlen Catholic in LeMars, Iowa, said, “I want to eventually have a large-scale greenhouse, so this grant will help fund a mini-scaled greenhouse with supplies. Students will test soil and water nutrients, measure plant growth, and eventually grow food for our cafeteria. In my Biology and AgScience classes, we can use a garden to help students learn about plant structure, function, and reproduction.”

Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director, highlighted the impressive quality and variety of awarded projects, noting the strong emphasis on integrating agriculture into subjects like science, social studies, math, language arts, nutrition, and career and technical education curriculum. “Through this ag literacy initiative teachers are empowered, and challenged, to create experiences that will reinforce core curriculum learning and inspire their students, who are the next generation of agriculture advocates and innovators, to recognize the importance of agriculture and visualize their role in it.”

Some of the innovative projects launching this spring include farm robotics, culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, tree propagation, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, farm-to-fork projects, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours.

The grants are made possible through organizations and individuals, including the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF’s Community Relations manager, emphasized the importance of agricultural literacy in recognizing agriculture’s value and impact. “The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is proud to support teachers in their classrooms. Agricultural literacy is crucial in fostering a deeper appreciation of agriculture’s influence, both in Iowa and globally.”

With this funding, students at Union Middle and High School in La Porte City, Iowa, will soon embark on an educational field trip to Hansen’s Dairy. This immersive experience will provide students with practical insights into various aspects of agriculture, including agronomy, animal husbandry, milk production and processing, the calving-to-milk cycle, and marketing.

During their visit to Hansen’s Dairy, students will explore the journey of dairy products from farm to table, deepening their understanding of how these essential foods are produced and processed.

“This field trip offers a unique opportunity for our students to see firsthand how dairy farms operate and to make meaningful connections between what they learn in the classroom and real-world agriculture,” said Dawn Stoakes, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Union Middle and High School.

After the field trip, students will bring their newfound knowledge back to the classroom, where they’ll engage in activities such as making cheese and butter, exploring the nutritional benefits of dairy, and sampling a variety of dairy products. These activities will allow students to apply what they’ve learned in a fun and interactive way while gaining a deeper appreciation for the agricultural industry. 

For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.  Below is a list of award recipients (in alphabetical order by city name):  

Tess Cochran, East Union High School, Afton 

Susan Stover, East Union CSD, Afton 

Bradi Sievers, Albert City - Truesdale Elementary, Albert City 

Julie Sievers, Newell-Fonda Schools, Albert City 

Amy Welp, Bertha Godfrey Elementary, Algona 

Amber Moorberg, Willowbrook Elementary, Altoona 

Lori Rawson, Southeast Polk, Homeschool Assistance Program, Altoona 

Daniell McEvoy, Meeker Elementary, Ames 

Kendra Haugen, Richard O. Jacobson Elementary, Belmond 

Amy Madsen, Carroll Middle School, Carroll 

Tanja Jensen, Clarion Elementary, Clarion 

Karen Moeller, Prince of Peace Catholic School, Clinton 

Christy Ayers, Corning Elementary, Corning 

Laurie Bancroft, Thomas Jefferson School, Council Bluffs 

Kellie Hinsley, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs 

Brenda Irwin, Saint Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs 

Julie Haskovec, Notre Dame Catholic School, Cresco 

Chelsey Boldt, Hayes Elementary School, Davenport 

Erika Bruess, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah 

Kirsten Burrett, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah 

Jennifer DeLaRosa, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah 

Annika Krieg, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah 

Jackie Panos, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah 

Beth Christner, Diagonal Community School, Diagonal 

Heather G. Coffman, Douds Center, Douds 

Anna Bruxvoort, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque 

Cassandra Cate, Peosta Elementary School, Dubuque 

Julie Voss, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque 

Linda Pollock, Dunkerton Elementary and Middle Schools, Dunkerton 

Jordan Omvig, Robert Blue Middle School, Eagle Grove 

Susan Cenci, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont CSD, Eddyville 

Shellee Shafer, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD, Eddyville 

Robin Taylor, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD, Eddyville 

Adrianna Allen, Edgewood-Colesburg Elementary, Edgewood 

Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co Schools, Edgewood 

Beth Jarding, Epworth Elementary, Epworth 

Carrye Pucci, Epworth Elementary, Epworth 

Kristen Wagner, Epworth Elementary, Epworth 

Sally Goodenbour, Poyner Elementary School, Evansdale 

Kala Miller, Fairfield Middle School, Fairfield 

Madeline Thomas, Maharishi School, Fairfield 

Kayla Peiffer, Fremont Elementary, Fremont 

Beverly Ambrosy, La Salle Catholic School, Holy Cross 

Olivia Emmett, Hudson Elementary, Hudson 

Andrea Hottle, Hudson Elementary School, Hudson 

Brenda Krapfl, Hudson Schools, Hudson 

Taylor Ronan, Hudson Elementary School, Hudson 

Myrissa Gingerich, Hoover Elementary, Iowa City 

Krista Oolman, Ireton Christian School, Ireton 

Christina Carlton, Turkey Valley Schools, Jackson Junction 

Jessie Greiner, Douds Center Elementary, Keosauqua 

Jodi Ebert, Keota Elementary School, Keota 

Kathy Ploeger, Kingsley Pierson Schools, Kingsley 

Dawn Stoakes, Union Middle & High School, La Porte City 

Afton Brinkman, Laurens Marathon Elementary, Laurens 

Ashley Langel, Gehlen Catholic School, Le Mars 

Rosa Sondag, Central Decatur Community School, Leon 

Katie Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan 

Dean Behrens, North Cedar Elementary, Lowden 

Beverly Wolterman, IKM - Manning School, Manning 

Jenna Spain, Cardinal Elementary School, Maquoketa 

Angie Schnepf, MMCRU Marcus Schools, Marcus 

Amanda Seuntjens, MMCRU Elementary, Marcus 

Terah Henson, Martensdale St. Marys Elementary, Martensdale 

Julie Messer, Mediapolis Middle School, Mediapolis 

Tejlor Strope, Missouri Valley High School, Missouri Valley 

Josie Guerin, Little Bulldog Childcare Center, Monona 

Amy Kruse, Little Bulldog Childcare Center, Monona 

Angela Pape, MFLMarMac Schools, Monona 

Sarah Wille, MFL MarMac High School, Monona 

Colton Warrick, PCM High School, FFA, Monroe 

Larissa Havard, Moravia Elementary, Moravia 

Pam Parks, Woodbury Central School, Moville 

Kelli Finken, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola 

Taylor Smith, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola 

Judy Wiggins, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola 

Nicole Guldager, New Hartford Elementary/Jr High, New Hartford 

Courtney Darrow, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell 

Abby Gruhn, Newell Fonda Elementary School, Newell 

Susan Hess, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell 

Whitney McKeever, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell 

Kayla Wingert, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell 

Becky McKinney, Central Lutheran School, Newhall 

Lindsey Henderson, Riverside Elementary, Oakland 

Robyn Ceurvorst, Olin Elementary School, Olin 

Betty Steenblock, Orange City Head Start, Orange City 

Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa 

Dana Sereg, Oskaloosa Elementary School, Oskaloosa 

Krista Burton, Eisenhower Elementary School, Ottumwa 

Diane Gnade, Midland Elementary, Oxford Junction 

Amber Evans, Pocahontas Area Elementary, Pocahontas 

Sarah Allison, Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe 

Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn 

Beth Foster, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn 

Audrey Kaufman, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn 

Rachel Beary, Seymour Schools, Seymour 

Janna Mix-Huot, Liberty Elementary School, Sioux City 

Nancy Dau, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake 

Jamie Nebelsick, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake 

Micah Barnes, Storm Lake High School, Storm Lake 

Sarah Kreutz, St Mary's Catholic School, Storm Lake 

Molly Dolch, West Central Valley High School, Stuart 

Kristen Finical, Fremont-Mills Preschool and Early Childhood Center, Tabor 

Michelle Gillespie, Fremont-Mills Elementary, Tabor 

Hanna Bedwell, Interstate 35 High School, Truro 

Melissa Marwedel, Webster Elementary School, Urbandale 

Rhonda Osborn, Des Moines Christian School, Urbandale 

Shelley Blakeney, St. James School, Washington 

Angela Webb, Hoover Middle School, Waterloo 

Jill Folsom, Sugar Creek Elementary, Waukee 

Monique van der Heijden, Montessori Children's House, West Des Moines 

Kathleen Bonjour, Hippity Hop, West Union 

Dawn Gannon, Calamus Wheatland Secondary, Wheatland 

Susan Heilig, Calamus Wheatland School District, Wheatland 

Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary, Whiting 

Anne Weber, Whiting CSD, Whiting 

Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine Schools, Woodbine 

Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine 

Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine 


About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
Iowa is the leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population. The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. Through Agriculture in the Classroom efforts, IALF engages with teachers and students throughout Iowa. IALF is supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, GROWMARK, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Turkey Federation, Corteva Agriscience, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Midwest Dairy, Iowa Farm Bureau Financial Services, Nutrien, and others in support of strengthening agriculture literacy among pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and their students. For more information, visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, Instagram, and on X.