By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) garden grant applications are now open to help educators bring agriculture into the classroom.

TFB’s Learning from the Ground Up Garden Grant Program helps students understand the source of their food, fiber and fuel and grow students’ knowledge and appreciation of agriculture.

“Gardens turn lessons into something students can see, touch and take ownership of,” Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Education and Outreach, said. “When students plant a seed, care for it and watch it grow, they’re engaging with what they’re learning in the classroom and applying it in a lasting way.”

The Learning from the Ground Up Program has supported hundreds of schools by providing funds for tools, seeds and curriculum resources to integrate agriculture into the classroom.

The program grants up to $500 to a Texas teacher or administrator, with the possibility of matching funds from a county Farm Bureau. The county Farm Bureau match is determined by the county once an application has been selected through the grant program.

Forty-five grants will be awarded this year.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a certified, active PK-12 teacher (all subject areas) teaching in a public school or in an accredited non-public elementary or secondary educational institution.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents directly connected to a class in a public school district or accredited non-public elementary or secondary education institution may apply when the project will directly engage students.

A letter of support from the partnering teacher is required to accompany the application. The letter of support must include a detailed explanation of how the Extension agent and teacher will collaborate on the project to meet the needs of the classroom.

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.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21.

“We hope educators take advantage of this opportunity to bring classroom lessons to life,” Bartels said. “If you’ve been thinking about starting a school garden, this program can help turn that idea into something real for your students.”

Qualifying projects must provide students with hands-on learning about agriculture through the funding of a new garden project or improvements to an existing garden or greenhouse.

Aquaponic and hydroponic systems qualify if they are used to teach students about food production.

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 to receive consideration.

All applications must include a project timeline, a roster of community partners and a comprehensive budget detailing estimated expense.

Grant recipients will be given half of the awarded funds upon notification of selection. The remaining funds will be awarded in the spring.

Grant recipients will be required to share an update in January 2027 and to file a final report electronically to TFB by June 1, 2027.

Additional information, eligibility guidelines and the application link can be found on the Ag in the Classroom webpage at texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.

Contact TFB’s Education team at edoutreach@txfb.org for additional questions.