WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – November 6, 2018– The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) is making mini-grants available to support the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction or after school programs with an academic focus.

“They were so excited in their learning, I have no doubt they will remember the facts they learned for a very long time,” said 2018 grant recipient Karen Moeller.

The Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants, made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, are designed to help Iowa teachers initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy in students.  Teachers can apply for $200 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.

One of last year’s grant recipients, Cheryl Huebner said, “Students continued to develop reading skills in a safe environment that recognized and valued their rural and agriculturally based life. Students improved writing and spelling skills while writing about the characters, such as Gilbert the pig, farm life, and agriculture.”

Preschool through 12 th 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 21 st century skills and integrate agriculture into the learning.   

“Agriculture in the Classroom and agriculture literacy has been an area of emphasis for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation for many years,” said IFBF Director of Community Resources Barb Lykins. “We see this as a value to teachers allowing them to connect what they are doing to Iowa’s number one industry.”

The deadline for application is January 9, 2019 and the proposed project must take place between January 15 and June 5, 2019. To apply online or for more information visit  www.iowaagliteracy.org.

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About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
IALF serves as a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture. The mission is to educate Iowans, with a focus on youth, regarding the breadth and global significance of agriculture. Iowa is a leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population, estimated to reach more than 9 billion by 2050. IALF believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. IALF will support existing agriculture education efforts such as FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom. IALF was created through a joint effort of agricultural stakeholders, including the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Silos and Smokestacks Foundation, DuPont Pioneer, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Source:
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation

Contact:
Will Fett, Executive Director
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
WFett@IowaAgLiteracy.org
515-331-4182

Publish Date:
11/6/2018