MAELC will award grants to support programming for agriculture, food and natural resources education (AFNR) education at the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Priority will be given to school-based agricultural education and post-secondary programs, or for projects connected to school districts or colleges/universities. The Minnesota Legislature provides this funding through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to be administered by MAELC.
Applications are due November 15, 2025. A second round of applications will be due April 15, 2026. Carefully read the MAELC Education Grant - Reuest for Proposal (2025-2026) for eligibility and requirements.
To submit your application, apply online.
Grant projects should address at least one of the strategies within the following MAELC goal areas:
MAELC Goal #1: Increase STUDENT access, awareness and participation
MAELC Goal #2: Improve PROGRAMMING content, meeting facilities and equipment needs, and provide the best method of instruction to meet the needs of the AFNR industry
MAELC Goal #3: Recruit, retain, and support highly qualified INSTRUCTORS
$250,000 is available over two grant periods. Applicants may request between $1,500-$25,000 per project. The average award amount for the past three years is $8,900. A cash match is not required. MAELC prefers not to sustain repeat projects.
For general grant questions or help with the online application system, contact maelc@umn.edu or call (612) 624-6256.
Institution | Amount | Project Description |
---|---|---|
Alexandria Area High School | $10,000 | Greenhouse Grow Lights |
Barnesville High School | $6,900 | Floriculture - Blooming Talents |
Dover-Eyota High School | $7,317 | Small Animal Vet Science CASE Implementation |
Eden Prairie Schools | $13,500 | AFNR in the Suburbs |
Farmamerica - MN Ag Interpretive Center | $5,000 | Water Pathways: An Interactive Look at Farm Drainage |
Friends of Frog Tree Farm | $9,000 | Rooted Futures: Culturally Grounded AFNR Pathways for Youth |
Heron Lake Okabena High School | $1,986 | Crop Production Revitalization |
ISD 197 (West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools) | $10,000 | Cultivating our Future: Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Food Systems |
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School | $2,285 | Providing Hands-On Taxidermy Experience |
Kasson Mantorville High School | $1,195 | Hands-On Learning for All Students |
Metro Food Justice Network | $5,000 | Youth Ambassadors Career Exploration Year |
Monticello High School | $7,337 | AFNR Experiential Learning Opportunities |
Mountain Lake High School | $3,734 | Foods Demonstration Table |
Nicollet Public School | $6,550 | Meat Science/Food Chemistry Lab Update |
Northfield High School | $3,121 | Engaging Natural Resources in the Community |
STRIDE Academy | $4,597 | Integrated Sustainability & Learning Initiative |
United South Central High School | $3,550 | Wood Shop Improvements |
University of Minnesota-Student Organic Farm | $8,647 | UMN Student Organic Farm Promotion & CFANS Outreach |
Wadena-Deer Creek High School | $5,000 | Cultivating Change |
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED | $114,719 |
Institution | Amount | Project Description |
---|---|---|
Albert Lea Area Schools | $5,600 | Albert Lea Ag Plot |
Bertha-Hewitt High School | $3,700 | Food Preservation in the Kitchen |
Blooming Prairie High School | $7,000 | Small Engines Implementation |
Climax-Shelly Public School | $5,044 | Climax-Shelly Agricultural Education Department Overhaul |
Farmamerica - MN Ag Interpretive Center | $4,460 | Expanding Access to Ag Education and Experiences at Farmamerica |
Hendricks Public School | $4,995 | Growing Minds, Growing Greens: Hydroponics for Hendricks |
Lac qui Parle Valley High School | $7,000 | Woodshop Improvement |
Lake Park-Audubon High School | $1,965 | Fishing for More: Updating Fish and Wildlife Curriculum |
Lanesboro Public Schools | $12,500 | Plasma Cutter |
MN State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence | $10,000 | Empowering AFNR Educators: Food Science and Safety in Action |
New London-Spicer High School | $4,000 | Welding for all students with a welding simulator |
Osakis High School | $6,732 | Small Gas Engine Reimplementation Program |
Westbrook Walnut Grove High School | $7,000 | WWG Tech Campus Shop Updates |
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED | $79,996 |
Institution | Amount | Project Description |
---|---|---|
Braham Area High School | $10,734 | Braham Metals Shop Upgrade |
Caledonia Area Public Schools | $9,572 | Renewal of Arc Welding and Gas Welding Equipment |
Holdingford High School | $5,000 | Greenhouse Climate Control System Upgrade |
Little Falls Community Schools | $6,968 | CASE Implementation |
Nicollet Public School | $9,274 | Welding Shop Upgrade |
Sibley East High School | $1,500 | Plant System Pathway Expansion |
South Central College | $11,036 | Automation in Agriculture |
Tri-City United - Le Center & Montgomery K-8 | $3,911 | Implementation of AFNR and Ag Explore |
United South Central High School | $3,400 | Metal Fabrication Equipment Update |
University of Minnesota-Agricultural Education | $16,893 | UMN Agricultural Mechanics Enhancement |
West Central Area Schools | $8,583 | Meeting Community Needs Through Hydroponic Education |
Willmar High School | $12,597 | Welding the Future: Expanding Access and Skills in AFNR Education |
TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED | $99,468.00 |