WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – November 10, 2025 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) continues to empower Iowa educators to spark curiosity and bring real-world experiences to life using agriculture as a lens to teach Core subjects, with grants to support classroom projects across the state. These Teacher Supplement Grants provide resources and inspire educators to create unique learning experiences that connect core subjects with food, farming, and the environment.  

Thanks to the support from IALF’s partner organizations and supporters, like the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), teachers can receive up to $200 to launch new or enhance existing classroom and afterschool projects that build agriculture literacy. 

“The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is proud to partner with IALF and support educators in their classrooms,” said Ronnette Vondrak, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Community Resources Manager. “Agricultural literacy is essential for helping students understand the importance of agriculture in their communities, our state, and the world. By supporting educators, we’re helping cultivate curiosity, knowledge, and appreciation for the impact agriculture plays in everyday life.”  

Grant funds can be used for lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips, or other interactive projects that make agriculture relevant and engaging for students. 

“Teacher Supplement Grants play a vital role in helping students see the importance of agriculture in their daily lives,” said Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director. “In just the last 11 years, more than 106,000 Iowa students have engaged in meaningful agriculture learning experiences because of the creativity and passion of their teachers.” 

Teachers are already seeing the difference these grants make. These mini grants empower educators to integrate interactive and engaging lessons, purchase high-quality resources, and give educators creative opportunities to connect students’ everyday learning with the vital role agriculture plays in their lives, helping students build lasting agricultural literacy. 

“The microgreens project gave our 7th graders a chance to explore plant growth, nutrition, and sustainability in a hands-on way,” said Jamie Nebelsick, Spirit Lake Community School District. “Visiting Cherry Lane Farm, planting seeds, and even taking grow kits home connected classroom lessons to real agricultural practices. Students walked away with not only an understanding of microgreens, but also a greater awareness of how agriculture shapes our food system and our everyday lives.”  

“Our students discovered that agriculture is more than farming; it’s a wide range of careers and skills,” said Sarah Plaht, MFL MarMac High School. “Working together across classes to produce a final product showed them the importance of problem solving, collaboration, and quality. This experience opened their eyes to new possibilities for their future and deepened their understanding of the many ways agriculture touches our lives.” 

“Our high school agriculture students loved sharing their knowledge with elementary and middle school special education classes through interactive lessons,” said Tejlor Strope, Missouri Valley High School. “From planting herbs to learning how milk is produced and even ‘milking’ cows with rubber gloves, students connected classroom concepts to real agricultural practices. These activities not only sparked excitement but also built agricultural literacy in fun, memorable ways.” 

Eligible applicants include preschool through 12th grade teachers, librarians, and Homeschool Assistance Programs at Iowa schools. Projects must tie into subjects such as science, technology, engineering, math, (STEM), social studies, language arts, or 21st century skills, while integrating agriculture into learning.  

Applications are due by November 30, 2025. Funded projects should take place between January 13 and June 7, 2026. Educators can apply online or learn more at https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/tools-resources/general/grants.  

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Media photos available for download

  • Amy Welp 4.jpg – Bertha Godfrey students in Algona learned about the lifecycle of farm animals.
  • Colton Warrick.jpg – PCM High School Plant Production and Ag Business students oversaw the growing, marketing and record keeping of plants. 
  • Julie Voss 1.jpeg – Resurrection Elementary students in Dubuque acted out farm stories and shared fun farm facts while dressed in farm animal costumes.
  • Julie Sievers 3.jpg – Albert City-Truesdale Elementary students gained a better understanding of the different types of agriculture around us.
  • Kayla Wingert 5.jpg – Newell-Fonda students visited Living History Farms on a field trip to learn about Iowa agriculture from the 1700s to today.
  • Nancy Dau 3.jpeg – Spirit Lake Elementary students took a field trip to Jones Dairy to learn about dairy cows and the dairy industry.
  • Josie Guerin 5.jpg – MFL MarMac students took part in a chick hatching project in the after school program.