The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation awards grants to Teachers at MFL MarMac, Ed-Co and North Fayette/Valley

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – February 4, 2026 –  The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 118 Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Teacher Supplement Grants to Iowa educators, advancing its mission to build agricultural literacy through hands-on, standards-aligned experiences for students across the state.

The IALF AITC Teacher Supplement Grant program provides up to $200 per project to support new or expanded initiatives that help students better understand food, farming, and natural resources. These IALF-funded projects integrate agriculture into classroom and after-school learning through innovative lessons, instructional materials, guest speakers, field trips, and real-world applications. Educators from 50 Iowa counties are represented in this year’s award distribution, reflecting IALF’s commitment to advancing agricultural literacy in communities across the state. Notably, 49 of the 118 awardees are receiving IALF funding for agricultural education for the first time, highlighting the program’s role in expanding access and welcoming new educators into agriculture-focused learning.

At Prairie Point Middle School in Cedar Rapids, students will explore greenhouse systems through literacy and science-based learning. “Because of this grant, students will be able to study plant care and environmental systems, then apply their learning by cultivating plants in the school greenhouse,” said Josh Divoky, 8^th grade teacher.

IALF Executive Director Kelly Foss praised the depth and relevance for this year’s projects. “These grants reflect the strength of agriculture as a real-world context for learning,” Foss said. “Through this IALF ag literacy initiative, teachers are helping students connect science, math, language arts, nutrition, and career exploration to Iowa agriculture, while building the knowledge they need to be informed citizens and future leaders.”

This spring, IALF-funded projects will introduce students to a wide range of agricultural topics, including farm robotics, culinary and nutrition education, crop and animal lifecycles, pollinators and ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, agricultural history, farm-to-fork learning, and egg hatching.

IALF’s agricultural literacy efforts are supported by organizations and individuals who share its commitment to education, including the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). “The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is proud to support educators as they help students build a deeper, more practical understanding of agriculture through classroom instruction,” said Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF Community Relations manager.

“Agricultural literacy plays a vital role in helping students understand agriculture’s impact on their communities, our state, and the world.”

At Albia Community Schools, students will explore Iowa agriculture through cooking labs featuring local ingredients, guest farmer visits, and student-created recipe cards highlighting Iowa-grown foods. “Our Taste of Iowa: Farm to Family project will help students connect classroom learning to real-world agriculture and community engagement,” said Katelyn Weaver, Family Consumer Sciences teacher, Albia schools. “They’ll learn how to plan a budget-friendly holiday meal and understand the importance of family dinners.”

For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org. Below is a list of 2026 IALF AITC Teacher Supplement Grant recipients (in alphabetical order by county then city name):

Christy Ayers, Corning Elementary, Corning, Adams  

Kaci Mullen, Corning Elementary, Corning, Adams  

Kaitlyn Deahl, Moulton-Udell School, Moulton, Appanoose  

Linda Pollock, Dunkerton Elementary and Middle Schools, Dunkerton, Black Hawk  

Dawn Stoakes, Union Middle & High School, La Porte City, Black Hawk  

Angela Webb, Hoover Middle School, Waterloo, Black Hawk  

Carrie Fredericksen, Highland Elementary, Waterloo, Black Hawk  

Carrie Taylor, Highland Elementary School, Waterloo, Black Hawk  

Courtney Elster, Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence, Waterloo, Black Hawk  

Jennifer Schlader, Lowell Elementary, Waterloo, Black Hawk  

Shari Ambrose, Community Lutheran School, Readlyn, Bremer  

Sara Hansen, St. Paul's Lutheran School, Waverly, Bremer  

Angie James, Fairbank Elementary, Fairbank, Buchanan  

Julie Sievers, Newell-Fonda School, Albert City, Buena Vista  

Abby Gruhn, Newell Fonda Elementary School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Bradi Sievers, Newell-Fonda School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Courtney Darrow, Newell-Fonda School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Kayla Wingert, Newell-Fonda School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Kyndal Hilgenberg, Newell-Fonda School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Whitney McKeever, Newell-Fonda School, Newell, Buena Vista  

Micah Barnes, Storm Lake High School, Storm Lake, Buena Vista  

Anna Richards, Clarksville High School, Clarksville, Butler  

Amy Madsen, Carroll High School, Carroll, Carroll  

Gene McBride, St. Lawrence School, Carroll, Carroll  

Julie Brissette, North Cedar Mechanicsville Preschool, Mechanicsville, Cedar  

Benjamin Heller, Scattergood Friends School, West Branch, Cedar  

Mandy Webber, Eureka Explorers, West Branch, Cedar  

Angie Schnepf, MMCRU Marcus School, Marcus, Cherokee  

Sarah Brady, MMCRU High School, Marcus, Cherokee  

Terry Towne, River Valley Elementary School, Washta, Cherokee  

Jenn Herold, St. Joseph Community School, New Hampton, Chickasaw  

Lindsay Pearson, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Spencer, Clay  

Angela Pape, MFLMarMac Schools, Monona, Clayton  

Sarah Wille, MFL MarMac High School, Monona, Clayton  

Megan Jackson, Central Intermediate School, DeWitt, Clinton  

Tieryn Tucker, Denison High School, Denison, Crawford  

Rosa Sondag, Central Decatur Community School, Leon, Decatur  

Adrianna Allen, Edgewood-Colesburg Elementary, Edgewood, Delaware  

Linda Tegeler, Ed-Co School, Edgewood, Delaware  

Pam Koloc, Lambert School, Manchester, Delaware  

Jamie Nebelsick, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake, Dickinson  

Kelli Hagedorn, Spirit Lake Elementary, Spirit Lake, Dickinson  

Trisha Brosius, Resurrection School, Dubuque, Dubuque  

Matt Kennedy, Dyersville Elementary, Dyersville, Dubuque  

Beth Jarding, Epworth Elementary, Epworth, Dubuque  

Carrye Pucci, Epworth Elementary, Epworth, Dubuque  

Elise Hoff, Epworth Elementary, Epworth, Dubuque  

Kristen Wagner, Epworth Elementary, Epworth, Dubuque  

Beverly Ambrosy, La Salle Catholic School, Holy Cross, Dubuque  

Laurie Bancroft, Thomas Jefferson School, Council Bluffs, E. Pottawattamie  

Joni Walvatne, Valley Elementary, Elgin, Fayette  

Melissa Franzen, Wings Park Elementary, Oelwein, Fayette  

Kristen Finical, Fremont-Mills Preschool and Early Childhood Center, Tabor, Fremont  

Michelle Gillespie, Fremont-Mills Elementary, Tabor, Fremont  

Joy Corbin, Hubbard Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe, Hardin  

Sarah Allison, Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary, Radcliffe, Hardin  

Amber Foutch, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan, Harrison  

Taylor Mikels, Logan-Magnolia Elementary, Logan, Harrison  

Stephanie Barker, Missouri Valley Elementary, Missouri Valley, Harrison  

Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine, Harrison  

Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine School, Woodbine, Harrison  

Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine, Harrison  

Julie Seils, Clark Elementary, New London, Henry  

Angela Naeve, Gilmore City Bradgate Elementary School, Gilmore City, Humboldt  

Kayla Long, Humboldt Middle School, Humboldt, Humboldt  

Janda Radke, G-H Upper Elementary, Galva, Ida  

Becky Juelfs, G-H Lower Elementary, Holstein, Ida  

Mallory Jamison, Andrew School, Andrew, Jackson  

Jenna Spain, Cardinal Elementary School, Maquoketa, Jackson  

Madeline Thomas, Maharishi School, Fairfield, Jefferson  

Diane Gnade, Midland Elementary, Oxford Junction, Jones  

Amy Welp, Bertha Godfrey Elementary, Algona, Kossuth  

Amy Walter, North Union Elementary-Fenton, Fenton, Kossuth  

Alicia Schiller Haynes, Central Lee High School, Donnellson, Lee  

Josh Divoky, Prairie Point Middle School, Cedar Rapids, Linn  

Kaitlyn Sheets, Fremont Elementary, Fremont, Mahaska  

Kayla Peiffer, Fremont Elementary, Fremont, Mahaska  

Kate Hite, North Mahaska Elementary, New Sharon, Mahaska  

Dana Sereg, Oskaloosa Elementary School, Oskaloosa, Mahaska  

Elizabeth Good, Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa, Mahaska  

Rajeen Tonner, GMG Elementary, Green Mountain, Marshall  

Jeremy Fritz, Fremont-Mills Junior- Senior High School, Tabor, Mills  

Mary Hanson, Mapleton Elementary, Mapleton, Monona  

Anne Weber, Whiting CSD, Whiting, Monona  

Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary School, Whiting, Monona  

Denise DeBruin, Grant Elementary, Albia, Monroe  

Katelyn Weaver, Albia Schools, Albia, Monroe  

Lisa Davis, Lincoln Center Elementary, Albia, Monroe  

Emma Fehr, West Bend Mallard Schools, West Bend, Palo Alto  

Kim Saxen, Kingsley Pierson Elementary, Kingsley, Plymouth  

Stacey Galles, MMCRU Schools, Remsen, Plymouth  

Kathy Lansink, Laurens-Marathon Schools, Laurens, Pocahontas  

Megan Bennigsdorf, Laurens-Marathon Schools, Laurens, Pocahontas  

Monique van der Heijden, Montessori Children's House, West Des Moines, Polk  

Brenda Irwin, Saint Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie W.  

Katie Ausdemore, Tri-Center School, Neola, Pottawattamie W.  

Angelic Henningson, Schaller Crestland Elementary School, Early, Sac  

Angela Kuperus, Ireton Christian School, Ireton, Sioux  

Jen Wielenga, Orange City Christian School, Orange City, Sioux  

Tess Cochran, East Union High School, Afton, Union  

Crystal Hickman, Mid-Prairie Home School Assistance Program, Kalona, Washington  

Shalyn Steward, Highland Elementary, Riverside, Washington  

Luke Hertzler, Stewart Elementary School, Washington, Washington  

Ryan Faught, Forest City High School, Forest City, Winnebago  

Annika Krieg, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah, Winneshiek  

Erika Bruess, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah, Winneshiek  

Jackie Panos, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah, Winneshiek  

Jennifer DeLaRosa, Carrie Lee Elementary School, Decorah, Winneshiek  

Kirsten Burrett, Carrie Lee Elementary, Decorah, Winneshiek  

Christina Carlton, Turkey Valley School, Jackson Junction, Winneshiek  

Samantha Gage, Turkey Valley Elementary, Jackson Junction, Winneshiek  

Evie Milbrandt, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School, Spillville, Winneshiek  

Molly Petersen, Danbury Catholic School, Danbury, Woodbury  

Kathy Ploeger, Kingsley Pierson School, Kingsley, Woodbury  

Pam Parks, Woodbury Central School, Moville, Woodbury  

Jenny Clabaugh, Siouxland Christian School, Sioux City, Woodbury  

Bailey Watne, Jacobson Elementary, Belmond, Wright  

Natasha Smith, Jacobson Elementary, Belmond, Wright  

About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation

IALF serves as a central resource for all PreK-12 educators, inspiring the teaching of science, math, social studies, language arts, nutrition, and career and technical education through the lens of agriculture. The mission is to educate Iowans, with a focus on youth, regarding the breadth and global significance of agriculture. IALF believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. Through Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) efforts, IALF serves as the state representative for the National AITC Organization and collaborates with the Iowa AITC network including County AITC programs engaging with teachers and students across Iowa’s 99 counties.  

IALF’s statewide initiatives are supported by agricultural stakeholders, including the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Turkey Federation, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship,  National Agriculture in the Classroom, and others dedicated to strengthening agriculture literacy among Iowa’s educators and students. For more information visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).