Farmers Can Cultivate Funding for Schools

The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, is once again gearing up to help rural school districts by investing more than $2.3 million to strengthen math and science education in rural communities.

Between now and April 6, 2014, farmers have the opportunity to nominate their local public school district to compete for a grant of either $10,000 or $25,000. Administrators from nominated school districts can then submit grant applications for either amount, through April 21, 2014, to enhance their math and/or science programs.

The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to partner with farmers to support rural communities. America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education launched in 2012 after a successful pilot in Minnesota and Illinois. The program has since helped more than 400 school districts improve math and science education across 39 states.

School districts that apply for a $10,000 grant compete against other school districts in the same USDA-appointed Crop Reporting District (CRD). CRDs with five or fewer eligible school districts will compete against each other for a single $10,000 grant. School districts that apply for a $25,000 grant will compete against schools that are located in the same state or designated region. Winners will be announced in August 2014.

Monsanto Fund grants will be judged based on merit, need and community support. The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of 30 farmer leaders from across the country, will select the winning grant applications. Advisory Council members were selected based on their passion for agriculture and education, as well as experience in rural school districts.

In 2013, more than 73,000 farmers demonstrated their support for education by nominating 3,851 school districts, resulting in $2.3 million in grants to 181 recipients. This year, the number of eligible counties has expanded from 1,271 to 1,289.

In 2013, eight Wisconsin school districts received a total of $110,000 to enhance math and science curriculums, including: Clintonville School District, Cornell School District, Cuba City School District, Kewaskum School District, Mishicot School District, Oregon School District, Prescott School District and Waupun School District.

For more information about the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program and to view the official rules, a list of eligible states, counties and CRDs, visit GrowRuralEducation.com.