WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – March 24, 2021 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 72 grants to schools throughout Iowa to support the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction or after school programs with an academic focus.

The Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy in students.  Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, fieldtrips and other projects.

One grant recipient, Crystal Gingerich who will be teaching students about chickens and eggs, commented, “I am super excited about this and I know our students will be as well.”

Some of the innovative applicants will be conducting projects this year including aquaponics, water quality, farm-to-fork projects, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours.  Successful applicants will use these agricultural experiences to teach language arts, social studies and a variety of other concepts already taught in their classrooms.

“Many teachers really see agriculture as a great way of putting core science and social studies concepts into context,” said IALF executive director, Will Fett.  “These projects provide unique learning experiences for students and the grant funds will ensure teachers have the resources and support they need.”

The grants are a special project of IALF and made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. “We are pleased to provide this support for teachers in their classrooms,” said Ronnette Vondrak, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) community resources manager.  “Agricultural literacy is an important aspect of the IFBF goal to build understanding of the value of Iowa agriculture.”

The projects will be completed October 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.  The following are award recipients:


Azra Alibasic, Hubbell Elementary School, Des Moines

Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn

Cheryl Andersen, Harlan Community School, Harlan

Stephany Becker, Siouxland Christian Schools, Sioux City

Leslie Brandt, Alden Elementary, Alden

Jennifer Brincks, Carroll Middle School, Carroll

Ellen Cannon, Midland Elementary, Oxford Junction

Susan Cenci, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Home School Assistance Program, Eddyville

Tess Cochran, East Union High School, Afton

Chelsey Cozad, Sidney Elementary School, Sidney

Jill Craighton, CAL Elementary, Latimer

Beth Cuddeback, Seeds of Faith Early Learning, Clive

Denise DeBruin, Grant Elementary, Albia

Jennifer DeLaRosa, Carrie Lee Elem. School, Decorah

Tammy Dillinger, Mayflower Christian School, Creston

Ashley Dirks, Albert City-Truesdale Elem., Albert City

Lisa Doering, Alden Elementary, Alden

Michelle Erbs, Blakesburg Elementary, Blakesburg

Nichole Gent, Woodward-Granger, Woodward

Crystal Gingerich, Mid-Prairie Home School Assistance Program, Kalona

Diane Gnade, Midland Elementary, Wyoming

Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa

Michelle Griffen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan

Rob Hart, Franklin School, Council Bluffs

Kimberly Henning, Kittrell Early Childhood Center, Waterloo

Stacey Hennings, Bennett Community School, Bennett

Linda Hosch, St.John School, Independence

Judy Jacobsen, IKM-Manning CSD, Manning

Angie James, Fairbank Elementary, Fairbank

Jennie Jensen, North Cedar Elementary, Lowden

Katie Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan

Lisa Johnson, Grant Wood Elementary, Cedar Rapids

Miranda Johnson, North Mahaska Community School District, New Sharon

Christine Kennedy, Seeds of Faith Early Learning, Clive

Megan Kramer, MMCRU, Remsen

Janet Mack, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive

Amy Madsen, Carroll Middle School, Carroll

Susan Maitlen, Mayflower School, Creston

Kourtney Miller, River Valley High School, Correctionville

Cassi Montandon, Wapello Jr/Sr High, Wapello

Kelly Neumann, Carver, Dubuque

Rhonda Osborn, Des Moines Christian School, Urbandale

Angela Pape, MFLMarMac, Monona

Lacey Peters, South Side Elementary, Hampton

Danielle Philmon, College View Elem., Council Bluffs

Ann Pottebaum, Kuemper Catholic High School, Carroll

Mark Quee, Scattergood Friends School, West Branch

Lisa Reinier, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Junior/Senior High School, Eddyville

Kate Reuter, MMCRU Royals, Remsen

Jessica Rooks, EKSTRAND, DEWITT

Nancy Rutherford, Roosevelt Elementary, Council Bluffs

Carrie Schaben, Harlan Community School, Harlan

Jennifer Schlader, Kittrell Early Childhood Center, Waterloo

Donita Schmitz, Elk Run Preschool, Elk Run Heights

Annie Schreier, Gilmore City Elementary, Gilmore City

Courtney Schulte, Seeds of Faith, West Des Moines

John Seiser, Northeast Hamilton Elementary, Blairsburg

Cindy Snell, Waukee APEX, Waukee

Rebekah Spragg, Albert City-Truesdale, Albert City

Brenda Stanley, Sacred Heart School, Boone

Heather Swanstrom, Ottumwa High School, Ottumwa

Brad Taylor, Roland-Story, Story City

Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co, Edgewood

Stefanie Throndson, New Hampton CSD, New Hampton

Neal VanErsvelde, BGM, Brooklyn

Julie Voss, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque

Jason Weis, Harlan Community High School, Harlan

BJ Welch, Blakesburg Elementary, BLAKESBURG

Ann Worlie, Seeds Of Faith Preschool at Faith Lutheran Church, Clive

Jennifer Wrage, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elem., Reinbeck

Michelle Zimmerman, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive