PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Ag Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the Foundation’s annual Ag Innovators (AI) Youth Education and Building Rural Communities (BRC) grants. This year, the Foundation has awarded 14 grants totaling $27,250 to support innovative youth ag education programs and rural community projects.
“We are thrilled again this year to support innovative, community-driven youth ag education programs that continue to build and preserve the future of agriculture in our communities and for our state”, said Chris Maxwell, Executive Director of the South Dakota Ag Foundation.
The Foundation’s AI Youth Education grants fund creative projects that offer more agriculture-related innovation and leadership programs for youth. Awarded programs involve a combination of agriculture, innovation, technology, and leadership in the area of education and address an educational need or opportunity in a more innovative, effective, equitable, or sustainable way than existing approaches. This year, the Foundation awarded AI Youth Education grants totaling $23,500 and included, but is not limited to, a variety of projects:
- funding an ag innovation award category of a long-standing youth entrepreneurship and business plan competition;
- supporting an initiative and program to help educational partners help young farmers and ranchers learn better methods of farm accounting, farm enterprise recordkeeping, compliance, marketing, decision making, and goal setting;
- and providing resources to support the continued expansion of the educational programming provided by SD Ag in the Classroom to classroom and school districts in every corner of SD.
The Foundation’s BRC grants fund community improvement projects and support the enhancement of public safety in agriculture. These student-led and implemented projects are open to 4-H Clubs, FFA Chapters, and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapters. This year, the Foundation awarded BRC grants totaling $3,750 and included, but is not limited to, a variety of projects:
- funding for improvements and enhancements to a local library;
- funding for the support of various facility improvements to local youth ag education facilities;
- and funding for a variety of safety and infrastructure improvements to local fairgrounds.
Organizations awarded through the AI and BRC grant programs are listed on the following page. For more information on the South Dakota Ag Foundation, contact David Maxwell at 605.412.4008 or board@sdagfoundation.org.
The South Dakota Ag Foundation is an independent, industry-led nonprofit composed of key leaders in the South Dakota agriculture industry. The Foundation is committed to cultivating a culture of philanthropy that serves all South Dakota ag organizations and investing in the future of South Dakota agriculture through financial support, human resources, and capital.
— South Dakota Ag Foundation