2024 Ag Literacy Grant Program Application

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a unique public/private partnership between the MAITC Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The MAITC Foundation has included the Ag Literacy Grant program in their budget. The maximum grant request is $1,000.

Ag Literacy Grant Program Overarching Goal

To provide cash awards to K-12 educators to encourage them to bring agriculture and food systems education "to life" by effectively integrating related content into their classroom or school. Grants are available for new ideas as well as enhancements to current events/activities. MAITC aims to fund projects that provide students the opportunity to experience agriculture in a cross-curricular manner. We strongly encourage teachers to utilize the many educational resources provided by MAITC free of charge. You can find them by clicking on the "EDUCATOR CENTER" link in the main navigation in our website.

Eligibility

Ag Literacy Grant for Teachers

First time applicants will have priority for funding. Grants supporting field trips to working farms or agriculture businesses are encouraged. Non-formal education applications will also be considered based on strength of application and the availability of funds.

Ag Literacy Grant for 4-H/FFA

FFA chapters and 4-H programs are also eligible for grant funds to promote agricultural literacy with other groups (ex: elementary school). The application asks FFA and 4-H chapters to identify which National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) the grant project covers. Applications submitted by these groups should show a partnership with a K-12 classroom teacher(s) outside of the school's agricultural education program.

Application and Review Process

• All grants will be evaluated by a Grant Review Committee. MAITC staff is not involved in funding decisions.
• MAITC reserves the right to deny an application based on quality, adherence to grant criteria and/or available dollars.

Important Grant Judging Criteria

• Innovation and sustainability are additional factors the grant committee will use in scoring grant applications this year.
• When developing ideas for your grant application, please consider ways you can engage students in understanding agriculture from farm to plate, and how agriculture impacts all of us within our local community, state, nation and around the world.
• MAITC defines agriculture as the industry that grows, harvests and brings us food, fiber, trees, turf and landscaping materials. It brings us almost everything we eat, wear and use each day.
• It is important that you complete the application with sufficient detail and rigor. Poorly thought out or incomplete applications will be denied!
• Please also provide a detailed budget. Specifically, we encourage you to pursue matching funds or other in-kind support from other sources to strengthen your application. Please list any such support on your application.

Grant Implementation Ideas

• Use grant funds to purchase needed supplies for the many lessons showcased in the Curriculum Matrix and/or AgVentures. Check the the National Ag in the Classroom estore for easy to order lesson materials.
• Learn about agriculture first in the classroom and then culminate this experience by going on field trip to a working crop and/or livestock farm.
• Learn about the farm to plate cycle first in the classroom and then culminate this experience by going on a field trip to a processing business such as a cheese plant, ethanol facility, meat processor, etc. Please check out farmcampminnesota.org for more information on a customized immersive field trip experience.
• FFA chapters can apply for funds to support an "Ag Day" event at the elementary school to include animal contact center, classroom presentations and interactive learning stations.