Strategic Initiatives Grants
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MAELC will award grants to support programming for agriculture, food and natural resources education (AFNR) education at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. Groups may apply for grants through a sponsoring organization. Applications are due November 15, 2024 and April 15, 2025.
These strategic grants are focused to assist in the following areas:
Access
- Implementation of new or expansion of current AFNR education programs that attract new and underserved/underrepresented groups
- Development of experiences that grow knowledge and understanding of AFNR systems
- Offering career exploration programs that recruit and retain students for the future workforce in agricultural education and agriculture careers
Program Improvement
- Creation and/or alignment of AFNR courses for effective integration of science, math and economics standards and principles
- Securing equipment and technology needs that enhance student experience and instruction
- Development and/or improvement of AFNR curriculum and course delivery methods
Teacher Professional Development
- Supporting career lifecycles of agricultural educators (e.g. pre-service, early, mid or late career), which can include professional development opportunities
- Creation of programs that recruit, retain and transition instructors at the secondary, postsecondary and adult farm business management levels
Over the last five years, the average grant award is approximately $6,900. Please note applications are no longer accepted for greenhouse structures, however, funding for items such as consumables or other materials used in a greenhouse will still be considered.
Application Procedures and Guidelines
For more information about the Strategic Initiatives grant program and an application overview, please review the "Strategic Initiatives Application Guidelines" (PDF).
Grant Winners
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 |
FY 2024 - Round 2
| 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 |
FY 2024 - Round 1
| Institution | Amount | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Lake Public School | $12,584 | Precision Preparation: The Future of Agriculture |
| Blooming Prairie High School | $14,800 | Wood Shop Improvement |
| BOLD High School | $3,000 | Food Chemistry Science Upgrade |
| Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart High School | $7,000 | BLHS Welding Shop Upgrade |
| Central Lakes College | $8,395 | Enhanced FBM Education through Online Course Modules |
| Farmamerica-MN Agricultural Interpretive Center | $5,370 | Accessible Learning Experiences at Farmamerica |
| Farmington High School | $6,000 | Floral Design Materials |
| Highland Park Senior High (St. Paul) | $5,895 | Highland Park AFNR Improvements |
| Isle High School | $5,809 | Isle Agriculture Program Flex Farm |
| Lake City High School | $4,650 | Cultivating Futures in Lake City Plant Systems Classes |
| Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial High School | $1,683 | Teacher Work-Life Balance- Greenhouse |
| Northfield High School | $15,801 | AFNR Program Support |
| Ogilvie Public Schools | $6,250 | Ogilvie Animal & Vet Science Expansion |
| Red Rock Central Schools | $10,000 | New Food Science Lab Equipment |
| Rochester Community & Technical College | $2,758 | Signs of Sustainability: Fostering Environmental Science Education and Career Paths with an Outdoor Kiosk at RCTC's Native Interpretive Garden |
| Sleepy Eye Public Schools | $3,406 | Sleepy Eye Shop Equipment Needs |
| Tri City United High School | $10,000 | Welding Certification in Secondary Education |
| TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED | $123,401.00 |