More than 100 Grants Awarded to Support Iowa Students Learning Agriculture
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Published
2/8/2022
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – 2/8/2022 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 111 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 agricultural literacy in students. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, educational trips, and other projects.
“I cannot begin to thank IALF enough for this opportunity to bring agriculture into my classroom. The students will learn so much” says Cassandra Cate. Teachers will use these funds for field trips to dairy farms, hatcheries, and ag history tours. Many recipients also plan to conduct projects related to aquaponics, water quality and farm to fork education. These agricultural experiences will also support language arts, social studies and a variety of other concepts already taught in their classrooms.
“We had very high-quality applications this year involving agriculture in core curriculum in innovative and creative ways,” said IALF Interim Executive Director Barb Lykins. “These projects will allow teachers to make learning real and relevant for their students and still align to state educational standards.”
The grants are a special project of IALF and made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
“The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is proud to provide financial assistance to support teachers in their classrooms,” said Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF community resources manager. “Agricultural literacy is critical in further expanding knowledge and an understanding on the value and impact of Iowa agriculture.”
The projects will be completed before the end of the school year with final reports submitted by June 6, 2022. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org. The following are award recipients (in alphabetical order by city name):
Rebekah Spragg, Albert City-Truesdale, Albert City
Ashley Dirks, Albert City-Truesdale, Albert City
Lisa Doering, Alden Elementary, Alden
Lori Blake, Ankeny Christian Academy, Ankeny
Lynne Bleeker, Parkview Middle School, Ankeny
Angel Brecht, Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine
Stacey Hennings, Bennett Community School, Bennett
Neal VanErsvelde, BGM Schools, Brooklyn
Amy Madsen, Carroll Middle School, Carroll
Allison Pattee, UNI Child Development Center, Cedar Falls
John Hebrink, Franklin Middle School, Cedar Rapids
Jennifer Redenius, Paton-Churdan Schools, Churdan
Stephanie Burke, Prince of Peace Catholic School, Clinton
Maria Lunders, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Beth Cuddeback, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Ann Worlie, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Janet Mack, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Christine Kennedy, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Michelle Zimmerman, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Erin Bemis, Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center, Clive
Courtney Schulte, Seeds of Faith, Clive
Christy Ayers, Corning Elementary, Corning
Rob Hart, Franklin School, Council Bluffs
Laurie Bancroft, Thomas Jefferson School, Council Bluffs
Nathan Van Zante, Lewis Central Middle School, Council Bluffs
Kevin Lewis, Heartland Christian School, Council Bluffs
Robert Tellgren, Lewis and Clark School, Council Bluffs
Salina Chesnut, Creston Early Childhood Center, Creston
Jennifer DeLaRosa, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah
Marcy Klein, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Kirsten Burrett, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Jackie Panos, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Theresa Huntley, Denison Elementary, Denison
Lisa Blum, Denison Community School, Denison
Vicki Rotert, St. Rose of Lima School, Denison
Merrilee Sump, Zion Lutheran School, Denison
Susan Bormann, Central DeWitt School, DeWitt
Alicia Schiller Haynes, Central Lee High School, Donnellson
Julie Voss, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque
Cassandra Cate, Peosta Elementary School, Dubuque
Tracey Rush, Tri-State Christian School, Dubuque
Ronda Rathe, Dunkerton Elementary, Dunkerton
Susan Cenci, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Home School Assistance Program, Eddyville
Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co Schools, Edgewood
Cheryl Kremer, Central Elementary, Elkader
Hannah Kozisek, Little Lambs Preschool, Garner
Jennifer Wrage, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary, Gladbrook
Julie Peters, Glidden-Ralston Community School District, Glidden
Nicole Smith, Woodward Granger ELC, Granger
Tara Liston, Grundy Center Schools, Grundy Center
Jason Weis, Harlan Community High School, Harlan
Beverly Ambrosy, La Salle Catholic School, Holy Cross
Dani Buhs, Taft Elementary, Humboldt
Rose Miller, Irwin Elementary, Irwin
Christina Carlton, Turkey Valley Schools, Jackson Junction
Evie Milbrandt, Turkey Valley Schools, Jackson Junction
Laura Mallory, Mid-Prairie Home School Ed. Center, Kalona
Crystal Gingerich, Mid-Prairie Home School Program, Kalona
Dawn Stoakes, Union Middle and High School, La Porte City
Katie Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan
Kasey Jensen, Logan Magnolia Elementary School, Logan
Michelle Griffen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan
Jennie Jensen, North Cedar Elementary, Lowden
Sonni Norberg, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
Rebecca Gaffney, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
Craig Hutton, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
Pam Koloc, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
Kathy Scholl, MVAO High School, Mapleton
Angie Schnepf, MMCRU Marcus, Marcus
Amanda Seuntjens, MMCRU Elementary, Marcus
Larry Day, North Iowa Christian School, Mason City
Sarah Wille, MFL MarMac High School, Monona
Judy Wiggins, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
Julie Sievers, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Megan Bennigsdorf, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Kayla Wingert, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Whitney McKeever, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Courtney Darrow, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Amy Freese, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Susan Hess, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Lindsey Henderson, Riverside Elementary, Oakland
Malayne Meyer, Osage High School, Osage
Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa
Johannah Neff, Pekin Elementary, Packwood
Steven Hameister, Panorama Community Schools, Panora
Ronda Wicks, Pleasantville Elementary, Pleasantville
Amber Evans, Pocahontas Area Elementary, Pocahontas
Sarah Allison, Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe
Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
Kate Reuter, MMCRU Royals, Remsen
Dustin Comstock, Shenandoah Middle School, Shenandoah
Chelsey Cozad, Sidney Elementary School, Sidney
Kyle Cleveringa, Sioux Center Middle School, Sioux Center
Sara Laven, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
Nancy Kriener, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
Madison Steffes, Spirit Lake High School, Spirit Lake
Lucas Doxtad, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
Marissa Vermeer, Roland-Story Elementary School, Story City
Alex Herrington, Treynor High School, Treynor
Andrea Patterson, Radiant Elementary, Urbandale
Rhonda Osborn, Des Moines Christian School, Urbandale
Melissa Marwedel, Karen Acres Elementary School, Urbandale
Cindy Snell, Waukee APEX, Waukee
Kristie Kuhse, Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School, Waverly
Jill Folsom/ Stacey Roberts, Maple Grove Elementary, WDM
Dawn Gannon, Calamus Wheatland Secondary, Wheatland
Anne Weber, Whiting CSD, Whiting
Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary, Whiting
Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine School, Woodbine
Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
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 nine 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, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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