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.
Applying
Applications due November 15, 2026.
Carefully read the MAELC Education Grant - Request for Proposal (2026-2027) for eligibility and requirements.To submit your application, apply online.
Grant Priorities
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
- Implement new or expand current AFNR education programs that attract new and/or underserved groups
- Provide experiences that improve student engagement and broaden opportunities for applied learning in AFNR content, including middle school grades (5-8)
- Promote and offer AFNR career exploration programs that recruit and retain students for the future workforce
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
- Develop AFNR courses that provide opportunities for credit equivalency for high school graduation credit or concurrent enrollment for post-secondary credit
- Provide equipment and improve facilities to enhance student experience and instruction
- Develop and/or enhance AFNR curriculum and course delivery methods to provide students with opportunities to acquire leadership, career readiness and technical skills
MAELC Goal #3: Recruit, retain, and support highly qualified INSTRUCTORS
- Implement recruitment strategies to encourage individuals to join the AFNR education profession
- Support career lifecycles of agricultural educators (e.g., pre-service, early, mid or late career), which can include programming for professional development, mentorship, and cohort opportunities
- Provide programming that retains and transitions instructors at the secondary, post-secondary and farm business management levels
Amount Available
$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.
Questions
For general grant questions or help with the online application system, contact maelc@umn.edu or call (612) 624-6256.
Previous Grant Winners
FY 2026 - Round 1
| Institution | Amount | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Public Schools | $6,714 | Enhancing Agricultural Mechanics Learning Through Updated Tools and Supplies |
| Albany Area Schools | $5,895 | Two Schools, One Trailer: Expanding Meat Science Education |
| Benson Public Schools | $5,712 | Advancing the Benson AFNR Program |
| Caledonia Area Public Schools | $7,500 | Acquisition of a hydraulically powered Iron Worker for the Welding and Metal Fabrication AFNR program |
| Cedar Mountain High School | $7,000 | Shop Improvements |
| Cleveland Public School | $5,021 | Cutting Edge Students |
| Dassel-Cokato High School | $3,019 | Greenhouse Propagation Experience |
| Goodhue High School | $8,000 | Models and Curriculum for Additional Animal Science Pathway Courses |
| Granada Huntley East Chain High School | $5,000 | Horticulture CASE Curriculum and Implementation |
| Hendricks Public School | $12,500 | Virtual Sparks, Real Skills: Welding Pathways for Hendricks Students |
| Holdingford Schools | $9,055 | Meat and Agricultural Processing |
| Kasson Mantorville High School | $7,095 | Wild Game Meat Processing |
| Minnesota FFA Association | $4,000 | MN FFA Technology Empowered Careers Conference |
| Montevideo High School | $6,690 | Star Lab CNC Plasma Table |
| Northern Lights Community School | $3,367 | Hook, Line, & Sinker: Building Natural Resources Skills |
| RTR High School | $4,500 | RTR PST Department Expansion |
| Sleepy Eye High School | $1,561 | Materials for Ag. Engineering Class |
| Swanville Public School | $2,864 | Hands-On Growing Systems |
| Tri City United Public Schools | $5,500 | Addition of Hydroponic Education to AgExplore and AFNR |
| University of MN - College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences | $10,000 | AFNR ROCs: Connecting Teachers to AFNR Resources & Opportunities in their Backyards |
| University of Minnesota - Dept. of Soil, Water & Climate | $5,136 | Expanding Soil Education Access Statewide |
| TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED | $126,129 |
FY 2025 - Round 2
| 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 |
FY 2025 - Round 1
| 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 |