BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) program remains a trusted teacher resource for educating children about connections to agriculture. This week the program received funding to continue classroom lessons thanks to IAA Foundation grants to local county coalitions.
Eighty-one coalitions serving 88 Illinois counties were awarded $647,000 in grant dollars which can be used for materials, training, educational lessons, and activities taking place during the 2024-2025 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, IAITC education director.
Last school year, 634,314 students and 48,380 teachers engaged in ag literacy lessons through IAITC. County AITC programs presented 32,232 individual programs throughout the state, an average of 400 per coalition. Classroom presentations, farm field trips, and agriculture expos add a new dimension to existing curricular standards.
County coalition grants are made possible through funding from the IAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau. The IAA Foundation raises funds for the IAITC program each year, and in addition to county grants, provides funding for Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies, and more.
“Consistent and sustainable funding is key for IAITC to have great results,” said Susan Moore, IAA Foundation director. “And knowing that so many Illinois students are making stronger connections to agriculture drives our donors to keep making ag literacy a priority, and we are grateful for that.”
Partner organizations of IAITC include Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
In addition, annual donors include agribusiness partners and individuals with an interest in supporting the future of agriculture. For information on how individuals can contribute, or to view a listing of all major donors, visit www.iaafoundation.org. For information on IAITC, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.
Counties awarded ag literacy grants: