The future of the agriculture industry lies in the minds of the young individuals currently in school. It is vital that the next generation is educated in how agricultural industry works — not just where food comes from, but who grows it, agriculture’s effect on the economy, environment, technology, lifestyle and its relationship to livestock. To develop agriculturally literate students, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is making agriculture education resources more accessible to classrooms across the country.
With support from Nationwide, the Ag Foundation opened applications this week for education grants that will empower educators with more accurate information about agriculture. Three hundred educators will be selected to receive educator packs that include one copy of the Ag Foundation’s 2022 Book of the Year, How to Grow a Monster, one copy of the accompanying educator guide, and a set of 30 school garden ag mags for educational use.
“The Foundation is excited to get more resources into the hands of educators across the country thanks to this partnership with Nationwide,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the Ag Foundation. “We hope that these accurate ag lessons blossom into a lifelong love of learning about how food is grown.”
“As a company rooted in agriculture, Nationwide recognizes that the future rests within a foundational awareness and understanding of the industry among young people,” said Nationwide and AFBFA board member Steve Hirsch. “I’m proud of our support of these teacher grants, which will further the important task of teaching young people about agriculture. The Foundation’s Book of the Year and supporting classroom curriculum are fantastic resources to aid in these efforts.”
Educators can apply for the grants through the Ag Foundation’s website. All U.S. educators may apply. However, it is important to note that How to Grow a Monster is best suited for grades K-3. Applications are due by midnight on February 28, and all applicants will receive notification by March 4, 2022.
