By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Ten agricultural mechanics and metal technologies educators will be awarded grants this year through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Ag Mechanics Grant Program.

The $2,500 grants will provide the educators additional resources to increase their students’ skills.

“The goal of the Ag Mech Grant Program is to help equip trade school classrooms with the resources needed to ensure students graduate high school with hands-on skills that seamlessly transfer to agriculture and related industries,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “Educators can utilize these funds to enrich their programs with essential tools and equipment to encourage student learning and technical understanding.”

Applicants must demonstrate how funds will be used to increase students’ knowledge of agricultural mechanics and metal technology skills. All applications also must include a detailed budget with estimated expenses.

Any certified, active 9th-12th grade teacher in a public school or an accredited non-public secondary educational institution addressing agriculture mechanics and metal technologies, agriculture structures design and fabrication, agriculture equipment design and fabrication, and/or agricultural power systems TEKS is eligible to apply.

“Through this grant program, we’re investing in students to help them gain practical skills that directly support agriculture and its allied industries,” Bush said. “By funding essential learning resources, we are encouraging in the future of agriculture and supporting industries.”

A panel of judges will review the applications and select the recipients. Judges will be made aware that the goal of the grant is to provide classroom resources to the educator, not fund agricultural mechanics projects for competition or show.

Grant funds will be paid to the public school or accredited non-public secondary educational institution named in the grant application. Grant funds will not be paid to an individual.

Program guidelines are available online at texasfarmbureau.org/youth/youth-opportunities.

Click here to apply.

Applications must be submitted online by Aug. 1.

Grant recipients will be announced in mid-September.

For more information on the grant program and other resources available for youth programs, contact youthactivities@txfb.org or call 254-399-5037.

Other free classroom resources are available through TFB’s Ag in the Classroom program. Access those at texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.