A Unique Public/Private Partnership

The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom program is an organization supported by both public (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) and private (Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation) sectors. For three decades, the public and private sectors have pooled human and financial resources to advance agricultural literacy among K-12 students and educators through the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) program. This unique public/private partnership model provides program consistency and credibility in Minnesota’s agricultural and educational communities and is known for effectively leveraging resources from both sectors.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the lead for Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom program development and implementation, while the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation secures and manages private funds to support the overall program.

Funds committed to the program from both sectors are leveraged many times over. This partnership has also allowed MAITC to offer educational materials for FREE since program inception in 1985.