By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
Teachers can help students grow a lifelong interest in agriculture when they apply for the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Learning from the Ground Up Garden Grant Program.
The grant was created to support schools and organizations as they teach students about the sources of their food, fuel and fiber.
“Texas Farm Bureau wanted to help educators connect small-scale gardening to the bigger picture of farming operations so students can better understand food production,” TFB Director of Educational Outreach Jordan Walker said. “Having a school garden is an excellent way to do that, but we know funds aren’t always available for a project like this in a school budget. That’s where our grant program can help.”
Qualifying projects provide students with hands-on, experiential learning about agriculture through the funding of a new garden project or improvements to an existing garden or greenhouse.
Aquaponic and hydroponic systems are eligible if they are used to teach youth about food production.
Teachers are encouraged use creative ideas and adapt programs to fit the current environment during COVID-19, which could include take-home container gardens and more.
“Food production and learning truly happens here, there and everywhere,” Walker said.
Grants may be requested from TFB for up to $500, and Walker said some county Farm Bureaus offer matching funds.
To be eligible, the applicant must be a teacher or administrator of any Texas PK-12 school, either public or private. Parent Teacher Associations or other organizations may apply when the project will directly engage students.
Agricultural concepts must be used in instruction. Preference will be given to projects that directly engage students in a hands-on agricultural experience. The project must be science-based in nature to receive consideration.
If an agricultural science teacher is applying for the grant, the project must incorporate elementary or junior high students (i.e., those not already enrolled in agricultural courses) into the project in some capacity as to increase agricultural literacy outside of general agricultural courses.
High school educators teaching courses other than agricultural science courses are eligible to apply.
All applications must include a timeline of the project, a list of community partners and a detailed budget with estimated expenses.
TFB will only accept one grant application per school per grant cycle. For example, an elementary school and a middle school from the same district can each apply, but two applications from the same elementary school cannot be submitted.
Grant checks will be made payable to the school or organization, not to an individual.
Grant recipients will be given half of the awarded funds upon notification of selection. Walker said the remaining funds will be awarded in the spring.
Grant recipients will be required to share updates and to file a final report electronically, which will be due to TFB by June 1, 2021.
TFB strongly encourages grant recipients to submit photos in electronic form, as well as appropriate photo releases. The organization reserves the right to partially fund grant requests, and a limited number of grants will be awarded.
Click here to apply. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 23.
More information is available here.
For questions, contact Walker at 254.751.2569 or edoutreach@txfb.org.