Teachers in Ogle and Carroll Counties Receive IAA Grants for Ag Education

Local educators in Ogle and Carroll counties have been awarded significant funding through grants from the IAA Foundation to enhance agricultural education in their classrooms. The funding is part of a broader initiative by Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC), which aims to connect students with agriculture through engaging and comprehensive educational experiences.

A total of 80 agricultural literacy coalitions across 89 Illinois counties received a combined total of 668,150 USD in grant funding. This financial support will be allocated for materials, training, educational lessons, and activities that will take place during the 2025-2026 school year. “Providing these grants ensures teachers have a local connection and access to engaging resources to integrate accurate agricultural content into their classrooms,” said Kevin Daugherty, education director of IAITC.

Last school year, the impact of IAITC’s programs was substantial, with 643,958 students and 36,335 teachers participating in agricultural literacy lessons. The county AITC programs delivered 31,233 individual programs statewide, averaging 390 programs per coalition. These initiatives included classroom presentations, farm field trips, and agricultural expos, enriching the existing curricular standards.

In Ogle and Carroll counties, the previous academic year saw 26,203 student contacts resulting from 1,298 programs. Activities ranged from making butter and kneading bread to studying soil and enjoying pumpkin pie. Such hands-on experiences are designed to foster a deeper understanding of agriculture among students.

The county coalition grants are funded through contributions from partner organizations and individual donations to the IAA Foundation. As the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation raises funds to support the IAITC program annually. In addition to grants for county programs, the foundation provides funding for Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies, and various educational initiatives.

“Our partnership is critical to enhancing agricultural literacy,” stated Susan Moore, director of the IAA Foundation. She emphasized the importance of collaboration among committed funding groups, employment agencies for agricultural literacy coordinators, in-kind services, volunteers, and donors. “We are united in a common goal to enhance ag literacy and aid in early discovery of connections to agriculture.”

The IAITC collaborates with a variety of organizations, including the University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and several others dedicated to promoting agricultural education. Additionally, annual donors include agribusiness partners and individuals who are passionate about supporting the future of agriculture.

For those interested in contributing to this initiative or seeking further information, details can be found on the IAA Foundation’s website at www.iaafoundation.org. More information about the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program is available at www.agintheclassroom.org.