DeRuyter Central School District received a $10,000 grant. A check presentation occurred Sept. 15 during a school board meeting. Pictured from left are Mary Coolbaugh, Ag Teacher; Marty Young of Whey Street Dairy; Bailey and Greg Coon of Coon Acres; John Hill, District Sales Manager of Hubner Seed; Denise, Ed and Chris Coon of Coon Acres. Holding check are Jack Fink, FFA Chapter Vice President; Hannah Mierke, FFA Chapter Secretary and Brittany Burrows, FFA Chapter Reporter.
(DeRuyter, NY – Sept. 2014) DeRuyter Central School District received a $10,000 grant from America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The district will use the money to enhance its agriculture curriculum through their Gardens Grow Farmers program.
The project will give students opportunities to expand their knowledge of agriculture. Through Gardens Grow Farmers, high school students will learn how science and math are closely related to the agricultural industry, and they will be given the opportunity to share that knowledge with elementary students. Each elementary grade level will be given their own raised bed, and will be taught, by high school agriculture students, how plants grow and what they need. The program will help prepare DeRuyter’s next generation of farmers by teaching about temperature, soil science, and water and air quality, through the use of data hubs, iPads and a variety of labs.
“Our high school students have so much knowledge to share with younger students,” said Mary Coolbaugh, agriculture and technology teacher. “Working with elementary students is a priority, because it is imperative to begin developing an agriculturally literate next generation, who understands how food is grown and the larger system of food production.”
This past spring, local farmers nominated the district for a chance to apply for the grant. School administrators then designed a science-based project for the grant application. Once all of the school district applications were submitted, a panel of math and science teachers reviewed each application and selected finalists. An advisory council, comprised of farmer-leaders with an interest in agriculture and education, then selected the winning grant applications from a pool of finalists.
“Agriculture has become one of the most technologically advanced industries, so farmers are very aware of the need for superior math and science education, particularly in their own communities,” said Monsanto Customer Advocacy Lead Linda Arnold. “We are proud to partner with farmers to support the things that are most important to them—schools, youth, and their community.”
DeRuyter Central School District celebrated receiving the grant on Sept. 15, during its school board meeting. Nominating farmers, school representatives and a local Monsanto representative, John Hill, attended the event.
Grow Rural Education encourages farmers to nominate a local public school district, which can then compete for a grant of up to $25,000. Since 2011, Grow Rural Education has invested more than $7 million to support math and science education in rural school districts across the country.
This program is part of the America’s Farmers initiative, which partners with farmers to support education, service organizations and youth in rural America. Visit GrowRuralEducation.com to see the full list of winners for this year. A sister program, America’s Farmers Grow Communities is currently in its enrollment period. To sign up, visit GrowCommunities.com.