America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Applications Being Accepted

In an effort to connect rural school district with the latest technology, the Monsanto Fund has opened applications for the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program.  Each year, Monsanto shells out $2.3 million to districts nationwide to help encourage growth and development of STEM curriculum.  And the application process starts with active farmers.  Heather Wolfe, a former teacher, leads the program for Monsanto.

“We really try to work with farmers to positively impact communities by supporting rural public school districts.  And it works by having farmers nominate the local public school districts for grants of either $10,000 or $25,000 to enhance math of science education.”

Last year, the Paterson and Palouse school districts in Washington received funds, as well as two in Idaho.  Wolf encouraged the farming and education community to nominate districts.

“The more school districts that are nominated, the more that have the opportunity to apply, and I think a lot of times the school distrcts, maybe they feel like they don’t have the resources to go in and make that application. But we would really like to encourage them to to take a look at the application.”

Last year, there were 175 winning school districts nationwide, using the grant money for:

• Purchasing a 3-D printer and using it to build a farmer a prosthetic arm
• Growing vegetables, which are turned around and given to the needy.
• And in some cases, the funds were used to establish or restart a high school ag program

To learn more, or to nominate your favorite school district, visit Monsanto's Website.

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