6 Farm Bureaus of IL Won National Grants

Six Farm Bureaus of Illinois were awarded mini-grants to fund innovative projects that bring the wonders of farming to children. Each county Farm Bureau received $500 from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture's White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program.

"Teaching people, especially younger generations, about agriculture and its positive effects on our daily lives is the basis of our efforts," said Dan Durheim, executive director of the Foundation. "The mini-grant program gives Farm Bureau members vital tools to distribute to educators in their communities free of charge, helping them teach young people in rural and urban America about today's agriculture," he said.

Illinois Farm Bureau is proud of the winning projects of these county Farm Bureaus:

• Adams County Farm Bureau will use the grant to purchase kits, which give teachers and students access to accurate agricultural information.
• Cook County Farm Bureau will encourage children to read about and experience agriculture with their grant. Their four-part summer program will include field trips, reading, and activities.
• Lawrence County Farm Bureau's grant will be used to expand a resource library and initiate their new Ag In the Classroom "book of the month" club.
• Lee County Farm Bureau's grant will become a substitute teacher's dream comes true. Their "sub tub" gives substitutes tools to engage students in meaningful discussions about agriculture.
• Menard County Farm Bureau and Sangamon County Farm Bureau teamed up for their combined grant.  Together, they will distribute 167 copies of the book "Who Grew My Soup?" to public and school libraries that offer summer programs based on the book.

These groundbreaking ideas are just a few of the agriculture literacy efforts conducted by Farm Bureaus throughout Illinois. You can become part of it, too. Contact your county Farm Bureau and discover what volunteer opportunity will fit your schedule and personality.