The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America program has awarded nearly $150,000 in Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grants this spring. Coordinators say high school agriculture programs in cooperative's 144-county territory were eligible to apply for up to $3,000 per school to promote agriculture education and inspire youth to gain a deeper understanding of the ever-changing agriculture industry by funding programs and the modern classroom equipment.
"This program is designed to help schools expand their agriculture education programs and connect students with the latest technology," said Corporate Giving Specialist Karen Schieler. "With students getting back to in-person learning, it's more important now than ever to give schools the resources they need to foster an interest in the ever-changing agriculture industry with hands-on learning experiences."
Organizations in Wisconsin that received grants in 2021 include:
** Amery School District: compactor, shovels, wheel barrows, enclosed trailer and pruning equipment.
** Barron High School: implementing Principles of Agriculture- Plant Science, and Animal and Plant Biotechnology Curricula.
** Beaver Dam High School: supplies for the garden, high tunnel, water tank and other supplies.
** Brillion Agriculture Department: rubber boots and boot racks, trail cameras, straps and storage, SD cards, readers and holders and GPS units.
** Cambridge School District Severson Learning Center: lumber to create raised garden beds.
** Cochrane-Fountain City Agriculture Department: hydroponic growing systems.
** Columbus High School: hydroponics system and supplies.
** East Troy High School: beekeeping observation hive, incubator, egg trays, wick pads and candlers and flow hood.
** Ellsworth High School: hydroponics towers.
** Glenwood City Agriculture Department: Trout in the Classroom equipment, Food Science equipment and supplies for Learning to Grow Center.
** Jefferson Agriculture Dept: germination chamber.
** Lincoln Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan Agriculture Department: swine breeder artificial insemination simulator and bovine AI cervix training kit.
** Melrose-Mindoro School District: purchase seeds, soil, pots, grow lights and equipment to maintain the hydroponic system.
** Oshkosh North Agriculture Department: aquaponics system and adjustable curtains for the greenhouse.
** Osseo-Fairchild FFA: hydroponics unit.
** Plymouth Agriculture Department: dissection kits, animal tissue slides, ruminant model, electrophoresis chambers, soil test kits, pruners, and gloves and saws.
** Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA: raised garden beds, garden tiller, hoes and rakes, plant cages, fencing and bee hives.
** Rice Lake High School: materials for incubating and raising chicks, dissection specimens and demonstration tools for large animal science.
** River Falls High School: food processor, smoker, meat and vegetable grinder, vacuum sealer, meat slicer and sausage stuffer.
** Riverdale Agriculture Department: greenhouse benches.
** Slinger FFA: floral cooler and grow tent.
** Sparta Area School District: tower garden growing systems.
** St. Croix Central High School: snowshoes for outdoor active learning.
** Turtle Lake School: suture kit with curriculum, canine IV leg and bovine AI training kit with curriculum.
** Westby Area High School: incubator and food dehydrator.
This is the fourth year for the grant program, which has awarded nearly 250 grants, totaling more than $607,000.
Categories: Wisconsin, Education