WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Feb. 14, 2023 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 155 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, field trips and other projects.

                One grant recipient, Jane Eklund of East Union Elementary in Afton, Iowa, whose students will learn about where their food comes from, conduct research about agriculture entities, and then plant and grow their own crop, commented, “I am honored and excited to receive the grant. I can’t wait to see how excited the students will be with the agriculture activities and books we plan to use.”

                Some of the innovative applicants will be conducting projects this spring including culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, 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.

“We had a lot of great applications that focus on integrating agriculture into science, social studies, and language arts curriculums,” said IALF executive director, Kelly Foss. “We hope these grants will allow teachers to make real world connections to what they are already teaching.”

                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 Iowa teachers in their classrooms,” said Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF community resources manager.  “Agricultural literacy is critical in expanding a deeper understanding of the value and impact agriculture has across our state and the world.”

                A teacher at Waukee Northwest High School applied to use the funds in a collaborative effort between Northwest High School’s culinary programs, the school’s science courses, and Waukee’s APEX program. Upon being informed of the grant award, Nick Ross, Waukee Northwest High School principal, said, “This is great news. Our students will have enhanced learning opportunities courtesy of this grant.”

The projects will be completed before the end of the school year with final reports submitted by June 9, 2023. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.  The following are award recipients (in alphabetical order by city name): 

  • Danette Cox, Van Meter Elementary, Adel
  • Hanna Sanders, Meadow View Elementary, Adel
  • Jennifer Curran, Van Meter Elementary School, Adel
  • Jessica Hammans, Van Meter Elementary, Adel
  • Jon Markus, ADM Middle School, Adel
  • Kayleen Bertman, Van Meter Elementary, Adel
  • Donna Ramsey, East Union Elementary School, Afton
  • Janace Nester, East Union Elementary, Afton
  • Jane Eklund, East Union Elementary, Afton
  • Marcus A Patten, East Union  Elementary, Afton
  • Mariah Mason, East Union Elementary, Afton
  • Susan Stover, East Union CSD, Afton
  • Tara Luther, East Union Elementary, Afton
  • Tess Cochran, East Union High School, Afton
  • Julie Sievers, Newell-Fonda School, Albert City
  • Denise DeBruin, Grant Elementary, Albia
  • Amy Welp, Bertha Godfrey Elementary, Algona
  • Angie DeWaard, Kate Mitchell Elementary, Ames
  • Becky Ferris, Bedford Elementary, Bedford
  • Lorna Bucher, Bedford Elementary, Bedford
  • Tabor Strong, Bedford Elementary School, Bedford
  • Angel Brecht, Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine
  • Dani Schon, Richard O Jacobson Elementary School, Belmond
  • Kendra Haugen, Richard O. Jacobson Elementary, Belmond
  • Stacey Hennings, Bennett Community School, Bennett
  • John Seiser, Northeast Hamilton Elementary, Blairsburg
  • Robin Pestotnik, Sacred Heart School, Boone
  • Sara Lehr, Central City Community School District, Central City
  • Tanja Jensen, Clarion Elementary, Clarion
  • Amber Allen-Cosimo, Shuler Elementary, Clive
  • Christy Ayers, Corning Elementary, Corning
  • Christy Drake, Corning Elementary, Corning
  • Amber Brown, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Andrea Smith, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Ashley Reid, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Brenda Irwin, Saint Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs
  • Brittany Kraft, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Deborah Gerjevic, Roosevelt Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Kari Thomas, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Kellie Hinsley, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Lauren Wilcox, Lewis and Clark Elem., Council Bluffs
  • Nichole Markel, Hoover Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Rachel Shanks, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
  • Rob Hart, Franklin School, Council Bluffs
  • Robert Tellgren, Lewis and Clark School, Council Bluffs
  • Julie Haskovec, Notre Dame Catholic School, Cresco
  • Molly Petersen, Danbury Catholic School, Danbury
  • Alicia Schiller Haynes, Central Lee High School, Donnellson
  • Barb Klein, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque
  • Julie Voss, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque
  • Karla Powers, Jefferson Middle School, Dubuque
  • Kelly Neumann, Carver School, Dubuque
  • Lisa Krapfl, St. Columbkille Elementary School, Dubuque
  • Angela Ridgely, Earlham Elementary, Earlham
  • Brenda Schnell, Earlham Elementary, Earlham
  • Mackenzie Gentry, Earlham Elementary, Earlham
  • Susan Cenci, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Home School Assistance Program, Eddyville
  • Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co Schools, Edgewood
  • Eleanor Arnold, Cardinal Elementary School, Eldon
  • Beth Jarding, Epworth Elementary, Epworth
  • Carmen Besler, Epworth Elementary, Epworth
  • Rebekah Sampers, Essex Community School, Essex
  • Angie James, Fairbank Elementary, Fairbank
  • Jessica Studebaker, Wapsie Valley Elementary, Fairbank
  • Neal VanErsvelde, East Marshall Middle School, Gilman
  • Deborah Fajardo, Northeast Elementary, Glenwood
  • Peggy Hamilton, Glidden Ralston Community School, Glidden
  • Sandi Ellis, Dallas Center - Grimes High School, Grimes
  • Carrie Schaben, Harlan Community Middle School, Harlan
  • Tanya Breyfogle, Hinton Elementary, Hinton
  • Beverly Ambrosy, La Salle Catholic School, Holy Cross
  • Rose Miller, Irwin Elementary, Irwin
  • Christina Carlton, Turkey Valley Schools, Jackson Junction
  • Molli Griffin, Kingsley-Pierson High School, Kingsley
  • Derek Fox, Northstar Elementary, Knoxville
  • Dawn Stoakes, Union Middle & High School, La Porte City
  • Vanessa Arhart, La Porte City Elementary, La Porte City
  • Kelsey Enslin, CAL Elementary, Latimer
  • Jenna Brown, Lenox Elementary, Lenox
  • Rosa Sondag, Central Decatur Community School, Leon
  • Leslie Putnam, Louisa-Muscatine Elementary, Letts
  • Katie Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan
  • Dean Behrens, North Cedar Elementary, Lowden
  • Lori Roberts, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
  • Nancy Cook, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
  • Pam Koloc, Lambert Elementary, Manchester
  • Sarah Finn, IKM-Manning Middle School, Manning
  • Angie Oberreuter, MVAO School, Mapleton
  • Kayla Green, Mapleton Elementary, Mapleton
  • Lynette Larson, Maple Valley Anthon Oto CSD, Mapleton
  • Angie Schnepf, MMCRU Marcus, Marcus
  • Samantha Schroeder, MMCRU High School, Marcus
  • Kristen Minch, Franklin School, Muscatine
  • Tim Odell, Franklin Elementary School, Muscatine
  • Diana Dahir, Tri-Center High School, Neola
  • Karly Smith, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
  • Kelli Finken, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
  • Lesley Nelsen, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
  • Paula Heck, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
  • Susie Fah, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
  • April Schmitt, New Hampton High School, New Hampton
  • Amy Freese, Newell Fonda Community School District, Newell
  • Courtney Darrow, Newell-Fonda School, Newell
  • Kayla Wingert, Newell-Fonda School, Newell
  • Lisa Christiansen, Newell-Fonda School, Newell
  • Susan Hess, Newell-Fonda School, Newell
  • Whitney McKeever, Newell-Fonda School, Newell
  • Betty Steenblock, Orange City Head Start, Orange City
  • Tara Norman, Clarke Community Elementary, Osceola
  • Dana Sereg, Oskaloosa Elementary School, Oskaloosa
  • Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa
  • Lori Luzum, South Winneshiek Elementary, Ossian
  • Angie Arendt, Pekin Elementary School, Packwood
  • Becky Eubanks, Pekin Elementary, Packwood
  • Steven Hameister, Panorama Community Schools, Panora
  • Amber Evans, Pocahontas Area Elementary, Pocahontas
  • Sarah Allison, Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe
  • Audrey Kaufman, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
  • Beth Foster, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
  • Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
  • Kate Reuter, MMCRU Royals, Remsen
  • Megan Kramer, MMCRU School, Remsen
  • Gene McBride, South Central Calhoun Middle School, Rockwell City
  • Jen Hibma, Schleswig Elementary School, Schleswig
  • Kristen Eilders, Riverside Elementary, Sioux City
  • Hannah Heissel, Fairview Park Elementary, Spencer
  • Julie Hansen, Fairview Elementary, Spencer
  • Emily Johnson, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
  • Nancy Dau, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
  • Nancy Kriener, Spirit Lake Elementary School, Spirit Lake
  • Michelle Gillespie, Fremont-Mills Elementary, Tabor
  • Nikki Truman, Interstate 35 Elementary School, Truro
  • Rhonda Osborn, Des Moines Christian School, Urbandale
  • Lydia Davis, Washington High School, Washington
  • Carrie Taylor, Highland Elementary School, Waterloo
  • Jennifer Schlader, Lowell Elementary, Waterloo
  • Stacey Snyder, Orange Elementary, Waterloo
  • Cindy Snell, Waukee APEX School, Waukee
  • Kristen Guarino, Vince Meyer Learning Center, Waukee
  • Laura Calvert, Waukee Northwest High School, Waukee
  • Megan Trader, Grant Ragan Elementary, Waukee
  • Michelle Zimmerman, Vince Meyer Early Learning Center, Waukee
  • Spencer Pierce, Timberline School, Waukee
  • Glenda Seward, Mid-Prairie High School, Wellman
  • Benjamin Heller, Scattergood Friends School, West Branch
  • Anne Weber, Whiting Community Schools, Whiting
  • Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary, Whiting
  • Tiffany Hillyer, Winterset Elementary School, Winterset
  • Arianna Thacker, Woodbine Community Schools, Woodbine
  • Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
  • Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine School, Woodbine
  • Kyle Bartels, Woodbine School, Woodbine
  • Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
  • Tracy Kelley, Woodbine Community Schools, Woodbine
  • Diane Gnade, Midland Elementary, Wyoming

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 & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.