Minnesota State Wire

Twelve educators in Minnesota have been awarded the 2025 Agricultural Literacy Grants by the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Foundation. These grants aim to enhance agricultural and food systems education for students from kindergarten through high school across the state.

Each of the twelve teachers received up to $1,000 to facilitate cross-curricular agricultural experiences for their students. The projects funded this year include soybean growing, field trips, fruit tree cultivation, among others.

MAITC is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MAITC Foundation, focusing on boosting agricultural literacy through K-12 education. More information about these grants can be found on the MAITC website.

The grant recipients are as follows:

- T.J. Austin from Northfield High School with "Agriculture Day."

- Brenda Gotvald from Healy High School with "Green Learning Oasis Initiative."

- Anja Johnson representing Minnesota 4-H across eight school districts with "Enhancing Agricultural Literacy and Leadership Through the Sensational Soybean Kit Program."

- Kerry Schulte from AFSA K-12 with "Farm to Table."

- Lillian Thuente from Highland Park High School with "Elementary Reading and Agriculture Activities."

- Hannah Seeger from JA Hughes Elementary School with "Kindergarten is EGGciting!"

- Joshua Hermerding from Lucy Laney Elementary with "Lucy Laney Orchard."

- Melissa Brueske from Mankato Area Public Schools with "Camp Ignite."

- Noel Cordero from East Range Academy of Technology and Science with "Growing Our Future: Agricultural Learning at Simek’s Farm."

- Carrie Allord from St. Francis Catholic School with "Monthly Agriculture Immersion."

- Amber Gremmels from New Ulm Middle School with "From Field to Fork."

- Martha Dukes from Mountain Lake Elementary with "First Grade Science Trip."