MAELC Awards $250,000 in Grants to Support Ag, Food & Natural Resource Education

ST. PAUL, Minn. — This past year, the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) awarded $250,000 in grants to school districts, post-secondary institutions, and organizations that work to improve agricultural education in the state. In its 26-year history, MAELC has provided over $26.4 million in competitive grants, scholarships, and sponsored projects. These funds were made available to MAELC through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

2023 Grant Recipients:

Adrian High School – additional welders for expansion of the agriculture, food and natural resources education program
Ashby Public Schools – equipment for new classes including Floral Design, Landscape Design, and Electricity
Blooming Prairie High School – classroom materials for seven new agriculture, food and natural resources education courses
Central Lakes College – resources for brand-new “Farm Business Basics” course for non-traditional Farm Business Management students
Duluth East High School – hands-on training and equipment for the implementation of two new Curriculum for Agricultural Science (CASE) classes: Plant Science and Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Granada Huntley East Chain High School – equipment and supplies utilized in several courses, including Farm to Table, Food Science, Advanced Foods, and Meat Science
Greenway High School – classroom supplies for the expansion of Food Science course offerings for middle school students
Heron Lake Okabena Schools – creation of an outdoor space to allow for student hands-on learning including livestock (chickens) and gardening
Holdingford High School – equipment to update and expand current horticultural and plant science courses
Lake Park Audubon High School – hands-on classroom equipment to help start-up the new agriculture, food and natural resources education program and FFA chapter
Mesabi East High School – equipment to expand hands-on learning opportunities in agricultural mechanics and power systems courses
Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators – professional development workshops for agricultural educators
Minnesota FFA Association – funding to incentivize the use of the Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET), which is provided to every Minnesota agriculture, food and natural resource education program
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association – supplies for the development an accurate display of current sow farrowing stalls used in the Miracle of Birth Center
Mora High School – materials to implement agriculturally themed hands-on experiences at the Kanabec County Fair
New London-Spicer High School – welding equipment to update and revitalize the agriculture, food and natural resources program
Osakis Public Schools – updated materials for the shop to help bring awareness to high-demand careers within the agricultural mechanics industry
Randolph High School – hydroponic and plant growing equipment to implement “Farm to Table” curriculum throughout the agriculture, food and natural resource education program
Ridgewater College Agriculture Department – hydraulics training system kit to elevate curriculum for hydraulics and agricultural mechanics, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for all students
Rockford Area Schools – industry-specific equipment and supplies to better equip agriculture, food and natural resource education classes with more rigorous, hands-on curriculum
RTR Public Schools – materials for the power, structural and technical applications courses to provide students with safer hands-on opportunities and bring awareness to high-demand careers within the agricultural mechanics industry
Rushford Peterson High School – classroom equipment to expand curriculum offered through the Meat Science course
St. Clair Public Schools – classroom equipment for three brand-new courses: Greenhouse Management, Small Animal Care and Production, and Landscape/Horticulture
Tracy Area High School – implementation of two new courses, Aquaponics and Floral Design, providing students the opportunity to learn how to grow produce for the school lunch and how to make floral arrangements
United South Central High School – equipment to fully implement electrical systems units in the “Technical Applications in Agriculture (TAA)” course, providing students skills in small engine repair, general electronics, mechatronics and automated system concepts
Watertown-Mayer High School – hands-on equipment as part of two new Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) courses: Plant Science and Animal Science

MAELC offers grants in two categories – Strategic Initiatives and Common Fund grants. Strategic Initiative grants are based on the strategies outlined in the 2025 Minnesota Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) Education Blueprint and focus on promoting access to AFNR education, improving current programs, and providing teacher professional development. Common Fund grants are awarded to applications having a statewide impact and are designed to meet specific goals related to the AFNR Blueprint. The next deadline to apply for a MAELC grant is November 15, 2023. For more information, visit https://mn.gov/maelc/grants.html

MAELC is a 16-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council.

— Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council