Ogle and Carroll County Teachers Awarded Grants to Enhance Ag Literacy

Local educators in Ogle and Carroll counties have received significant funding from the IAA Foundation to enhance agricultural literacy in their classrooms. A total of $668,150 has been awarded to 80 agricultural literacy coalitions across 89 Illinois counties. This funding will support materials, training, and educational activities during the 2025-2026 school year.

According to Kevin Daugherty, Education Director at Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC), these grants are designed to ensure teachers have local connections and access to engaging resources. He noted, “Providing these grants ensures teachers have a local connection and access to engaging resources to integrate accurate agricultural content into their classrooms.”

The impact of IAITC programming is substantial. Last school year, nearly 644,000 students and over 36,000 teachers participated in agricultural literacy lessons facilitated by IAITC. County programs reported a remarkable 31,233 individual programs statewide, averaging 390 presentations per coalition. These initiatives include classroom presentations, farm field trips, and agriculture expos that enrich existing curricular standards.

In Ogle and Carroll counties alone, there were 26,203 student interactions through 1,298 programs last year. Activities ranged from making butter and kneading bread to studying soil and enjoying pumpkin pie, providing hands-on experiences that foster a deeper understanding of agriculture.

Funding and Partnerships Strengthening Agriculture Education

The county coalition grants derive their support from the generous contributions of various partners, including individuals and organizations committed to enhancing agricultural education. The IAA Foundation, which operates as the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, is instrumental in raising funds for the IAITC program. In addition to county grants, the foundation also provides funding for Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies, and other educational initiatives.

Susan Moore, Director of the IAA Foundation, emphasized the collaborative nature of these efforts. “Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is a true partnership,” she stated. “From committed funding groups, employment agencies for ag literacy coordinators, in-kind services, to every volunteer and each dollar donated, we are Illinois agriculture unified in a common goal to enhance ag literacy and aid in early discovery of connections to agriculture. Our partners are committed to making ag literacy a priority, and we are grateful for that.”

Partner organizations include the Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, and various agricultural associations, such as the Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and Illinois Soybean Association. These partnerships highlight a community-wide commitment to improving agricultural education across the state.

For those interested in supporting the future of agriculture, details on contributions and a list of major donors can be found on the IAA Foundation website at www.iaafoundation.org. Additional information about the IAITC program is available at www.agintheclassroom.org.