ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is now accepting applications for two competitive grants for promoting and expanding agricultural education in the state of Minnesota. Over $210,000 is available between the Common Fund and the Strategic Initiatives and grant programs. All grant applications must be completed online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html before midnight on November 15, 2018. The next round of grants will be due April 15, 2019.
MAELC recently updated their grant programs to better align with the 2025 Minnesota Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) Education Blueprint. The Blueprint provides key goals and strategies to enhance AFNR education at multiple levels, including agricultural literacy, school-based AFNR education, post-secondary AFNR education, teacher preparation in Agricultural Education, and Farm Business Management.
Common Fund grants are awarded to applications having a statewide impact and are designed to meet specific goals related to the AFNR Blueprint. New and innovative ideas are encouraged to support increasing the quality of instruction, increasing the numbers and types of students reached by programs, and projects that improve the understanding of AFNR education.
Strategic Initiative grants are based on the strategies outlined in the AFNR Blueprint and focus on promoting access to AFNR education, improving current programs, and providing teacher professional development. These grants support programming at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in Minnesota.
“With an enhanced grant program, MAELC continues to provide educators and organizations the opportunity to expand agricultural education and implement new, innovative projects,” said Sarah Dornink, Executive Director of MAELC.
Grant applications can be obtained online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html
About MAELC – MAELC is a 17-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council.
— Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council
For more news from Minnesota, click here.