WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – 1/27/2025 – The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded nearly 120 grants to schools across Iowa to bolster the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction and after-school programs with an academic focus.
The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects and/or expand upon existing programs that promote agriculture literacy for students. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects. Teachers received up to $200 to fund their projects.
Grant recipient, Ashley Langel of Gehlen Catholic in LeMars, Iowa, said, “I want to eventually have a large-scale greenhouse, so this grant will help fund a mini-scaled greenhouse with supplies. Students will test soil and water nutrients, measure plant growth, and eventually grow food for our cafeteria. In my Biology and AgScience classes, we can use a garden to help students learn about plant structure, function, and reproduction.”
Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director, highlighted the impressive quality and variety of awarded projects, noting the strong emphasis on integrating agriculture into subjects like science, social studies, math, language arts, nutrition, and career and technical education curriculum. “Through this ag literacy initiative teachers are empowered, and challenged, to create experiences that will reinforce core curriculum learning and inspire their students, who are the next generation of agriculture advocates and innovators, to recognize the importance of agriculture and visualize their role in it.”
Some of the innovative projects launching this spring include farm robotics, culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, tree propagation, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, farm-to-fork projects, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours.
The grants are made possible through organizations and individuals, including the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF’s Community Relations manager, emphasized the importance of agricultural literacy in recognizing agriculture’s value and impact. “The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is proud to support teachers in their classrooms. Agricultural literacy is crucial in fostering a deeper appreciation of agriculture’s influence, both in Iowa and globally.”
With this funding, students at Union Middle and High School in La Porte City, Iowa, will soon embark on an educational field trip to Hansen’s Dairy. This immersive experience will provide students with practical insights into various aspects of agriculture, including agronomy, animal husbandry, milk production and processing, the calving-to-milk cycle, and marketing.
During their visit to Hansen’s Dairy, students will explore the journey of dairy products from farm to table, deepening their understanding of how these essential foods are produced and processed.
“This field trip offers a unique opportunity for our students to see firsthand how dairy farms operate and to make meaningful connections between what they learn in the classroom and real-world agriculture,” said
Dawn Stoakes, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Union Middle and High School.
After the field trip, students will bring their newfound knowledge back to the classroom, where they’ll engage in activities such as making cheese and butter, exploring the nutritional benefits of dairy, and sampling a variety of dairy products. These activities will allow students to apply what they’ve learned in a fun and interactive way while gaining a deeper appreciation for the agricultural industry.
For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.
Below is a list of award recipients (in alphabetical order by city name):
Tess Cochran, East Union High School, Afton
Susan Stover, East Union CSD, Afton
Bradi Sievers, Albert City - Truesdale Elementary, Albert City
Julie Sievers, Newell-Fonda Schools, Albert City
Amy Welp, Bertha Godfrey Elementary, Algona
Amber Moorberg, Willowbrook Elementary, Altoona
Lori Rawson, Southeast Polk, Homeschool Assistance Program, Altoona
Daniell McEvoy, Meeker Elementary, Ames
Kendra Haugen, Richard O. Jacobson Elementary, Belmond
Amy Madsen, Carroll Middle School, Carroll
Tanja Jensen, Clarion Elementary, Clarion
Karen Moeller, Prince of Peace Catholic School, Clinton
Christy Ayers, Corning Elementary, Corning
Laurie Bancroft, Thomas Jefferson School, Council Bluffs
Kellie Hinsley, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
Brenda Irwin, Saint Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs
Julie Haskovec, Notre Dame Catholic School, Cresco
Chelsey Boldt, Hayes Elementary School, Davenport
Erika Bruess, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Kirsten Burrett, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Jennifer DeLaRosa, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah
Annika Krieg, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah
Jackie Panos, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah
Beth Christner, Diagonal Community School, Diagonal
Heather G. Coffman, Douds Center, Douds
Anna Bruxvoort, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque
Cassandra Cate, Peosta Elementary School, Dubuque
Julie Voss, Resurrection Elementary, Dubuque
Linda Pollock, Dunkerton Elementary and Middle Schools, Dunkerton
Jordan Omvig, Robert Blue Middle School, Eagle Grove
Susan Cenci, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont CSD, Eddyville
Shellee Shafer, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD, Eddyville
Robin Taylor, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD, Eddyville
Adrianna Allen, Edgewood-Colesburg Elementary, Edgewood
Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co Schools, Edgewood
Beth Jarding, Epworth Elementary, Epworth
Carrye Pucci, Epworth Elementary, Epworth
Kristen Wagner, Epworth Elementary, Epworth
Sally Goodenbour, Poyner Elementary School, Evansdale
Kala Miller, Fairfield Middle School, Fairfield
Madeline Thomas, Maharishi School, Fairfield
Kayla Peiffer, Fremont Elementary, Fremont
Beverly Ambrosy, La Salle Catholic School, Holy Cross
Olivia Emmett, Hudson Elementary, Hudson
Andrea Hottle, Hudson Elementary School, Hudson
Brenda Krapfl, Hudson Schools, Hudson
Taylor Ronan, Hudson Elementary School, Hudson
Myrissa Gingerich, Hoover Elementary, Iowa City
Krista Oolman, Ireton Christian School, Ireton
Christina Carlton, Turkey Valley Schools, Jackson Junction
Jessie Greiner, Douds Center Elementary, Keosauqua
Jodi Ebert, Keota Elementary School, Keota
Kathy Ploeger, Kingsley Pierson Schools, Kingsley
Dawn Stoakes, Union Middle & High School, La Porte City
Afton Brinkman, Laurens Marathon Elementary, Laurens
Ashley Langel, Gehlen Catholic School, Le Mars
Rosa Sondag, Central Decatur Community School, Leon
Katie Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan
Dean Behrens, North Cedar Elementary, Lowden
Beverly Wolterman, IKM - Manning School, Manning
Jenna Spain, Cardinal Elementary School, Maquoketa
Angie Schnepf, MMCRU Marcus Schools, Marcus
Amanda Seuntjens, MMCRU Elementary, Marcus
Terah Henson, Martensdale St. Mary's Elementary, Martensdale
Julie Messer, Mediapolis Middle School, Mediapolis
Tejlor Strope, Missouri Valley High School, Missouri Valley
Josie Guerin, Little Bulldog Childcare Center, Monona
Amy Kruse, Little Bulldog Childcare Center, Monona
Angela Pape, MFLMarMac Schools, Monona
Sarah Wille, MFL MarMac High School, Monona
Colton Warrick, PCM High School, FFA, Monroe
Larissa Havard, Moravia Elementary, Moravia
Pam Parks, Woodbury Central School, Moville
Kelli Finken, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
Taylor Smith, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
Judy Wiggins, Tri-Center Elementary, Neola
Nicole Guldager, New Hartford Elementary/Jr High, New Hartford
Courtney Darrow, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Abby Gruhn, Newell Fonda Elementary School, Newell
Susan Hess, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Whitney McKeever, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Kayla Wingert, Newell-Fonda Schools, Newell
Becky McKinney, Central Lutheran School, Newhall
Lindsey Henderson, Riverside Elementary, Oakland
Robyn Ceurvorst, Olin Elementary School, Olin
Betty Steenblock, Orange City Head Start, Orange City
Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa
Dana Sereg, Oskaloosa Elementary School, Oskaloosa
Krista Burton, Eisenhower Elementary School, Ottumwa
Diane Gnade, Midland Elementary, Oxford Junction
Amber Evans, Pocahontas Area Elementary, Pocahontas
Sarah Allison, Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe
Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
Beth Foster, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
Audrey Kaufman, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
Rachel Beary, Seymour Schools, Seymour
Janna Mix-Huot, Liberty Elementary School, Sioux City
Nancy Dau, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
Jamie Nebelsick, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake
Micah Barnes, Storm Lake High School, Storm Lake
Sarah Kreutz, St Mary's Catholic School, Storm Lake
Molly Dolch, West Central Valley High School, Stuart
Kristen Finical, Fremont-Mills Preschool and Early Childhood Center, Tabor
Michelle Gillespie, Fremont-Mills Elementary, Tabor
Hanna Bedwell, Interstate 35 High School, Truro
Melissa Marwedel, Webster Elementary School, Urbandale
Rhonda Osborn, Des Moines Christian School, Urbandale
Shelley Blakeney, St. James School, Washington
Angela Webb, Hoover Middle School, Waterloo
Jill Folsom, Sugar Creek Elementary, Waukee
Monique van der Heijden, Montessori Children's House, West Des Moines
Kathleen Bonjour, Hippity Hop, West Union
Dawn Gannon, Calamus Wheatland Secondary, Wheatland
Susan Heilig, Calamus Wheatland School District, Wheatland
Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary, Whiting
Anne Weber, Whiting CSD, Whiting
Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine Schools, Woodbine
Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
Iowa is the leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population. The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. Through Agriculture in the Classroom efforts, IALF engages with teachers and students throughout Iowa. IALF is supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, GROWMARK, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Turkey Federation, Corteva Agriscience, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Midwest Dairy, Iowa Farm Bureau Financial Services, Nutrien, and others in support of strengthening agriculture literacy among pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and their students. For more information visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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