By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) named the recipients of the Learning From the Ground Up garden grants for 2023-2024.

Thirty-nine grants, totaling $19,500, were awarded to schools and educational programs across the Lone Star State for projects that help increase agricultural literacy and awareness.

“These grants allow students to dig into agriculture and cultivate a better understanding of food production,” said Jordan Bartels, associate director of TFB’s Organization Division, Educational Outreach. “Teachers can connect the science and gardening to growing crops on a larger scale and help foster a deeper appreciation for how food is grown and for the people who grow it.”

Projects include establishing or improving school gardens, raised beds, greenhouses and outdoor classrooms that provide students with hands-on experiential learning about agriculture and food production.

Recipients of the 2023-2024 garden grants are:

  • Cactus Elementary School, Moore County
  • Sunray High School, Moore County
  • George Washington Carver Academy, Randall County
  • Whiteface Elementary School, Cochran County
  • Cotton Center Elementary School, Hale County
  • Christ the King School – Lubbock, Lubbock County
  • Donna Zimmerer Licensed Child Care, Cooke County
  • Nocona Elementary, Montague County
  • Sheppard Air Force Base Elementary, Wichita County
  • Universal Academy Irving Campus, Dallas County
  • Frazier Elementary School, Johnson County
  • Fellowship Academy, Tarrant County
  • Bell Manor Elementary, Tarrant County
  • White Oak ISD, Gregg County
  • North Hopkins Elementary, Hopkins County
  • Deport Elementary, Lamar County
  • First Presbyterian Elementary, El Paso County
  • Alpine Christian School, Brewster County
  • DeLeon Elementary, Comanche County
  • Huckabay ISD, Erath County
  • Merkel High School, Taylor County
  • Waco Montessori School, McLennan County
  • Linder Elementary, Travis County
  • Round Rock Opportunity Center, Williamson County
  • Elkhart Intermediate, Anderson County
  • Lovelady High School, Houston County
  • Hemphill Middle School & High School, Sabine County
  • Alkek Elementary, Bandera County
  • Will Smith Zoo School, Bexar County
  • Blanco Middle School, Blanco County
  • Southside Elementary, Brazoria County
  • College Station High School, Brazos County
  • East Early College High School, Harris County
  • Prairie Lea High School, Caldwell County
  • Sweet Home, Lavaca County
  • La Vernia Intermediate School, Wilson County
  • Weslaco East High School, Hidalgo County
  • Yzaguirre Middle School, Hidalgo County
  • West Intermediate, Nueces County

The next application process will open in summer 2024.

For more information about garden grants, other educational opportunities and Ag in the Classroom materials, visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc or email edoutreach@txfb.org.