The Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grant Program, offered by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, provides up to $200 to support innovative projects integrating agriculture into classroom instruction or afterschool programs with an academic focus. This grant is intended for teachers and educators working on new or expanded projects, including lessons, activities, resources, field trips, and guest speakers, that promote agriculture literacy.
Eligibility includes preschool to 12th-grade educators, school librarians, homeschool programs, and nonprofit preschool organizations. Projects must integrate agriculture with language arts, math, science, or social studies and take place between January 13 and June 7, 2025. Each educator may submit only one application per year, though multiple teachers at the same school may apply separately. Applications are due by November 30, 2024, with notifications sent by January 6, 2025. Funding distribution occurs by January 17, 2025, and a final report with at least one project photo must be submitted by June 6, 2025.
Grant funds can be used for items such as educational publications, books, kits, resources, and activities. Examples of past projects include school gardens, pollination studies, animal lifecycle explorations, and incorporating agriculture into core subjects. To apply, educators must complete an online application, which can be revisited and revised before submission. Applicants will also be added to the foundation's e-newsletter to learn about additional resources. For further information, contact Melissa Anderson at 515-225-5462 or via email at manderson@iowaagliteracy.org.
