January 7, 2019 - SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded $250,000 for six projects that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities for students, teachers and youth under the 2018 California Special Interest Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program.
The grants support California’s statewide Future Farmers of America program, agricultural teaching facilities for Los Angeles County schools, a “Dirt to Dinner” educational program in Sacramento County, agricultural activity centers at local fairs, and statewide agricultural curriculum development for schoolchildren.
“In just five years, this successful program has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to support agricultural education and leadership opportunities connected to California agriculture,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.
The CalAgPlate program is funded with proceeds generated through the sale of specialized, agriculture-themed license plates through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Californians can support agricultural education and the CalAgPlate program by purchasing a special interest license plate from the DMV.
California Department of Food and Agriculture 2018 CalAgPlate Grant Program Project Abstracts
Leadership and Programmatic Development $212,500
California Association, Future Farmers of America
This project supports leadership and programmatic development for California’s statewide Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. California FFA has over 330 school chapters throughout the state that provide integral leadership instruction through use of the FFA student organization to nearly 90,000 student members. Funding for this project will support the Leadership Continuum, the State FFA Leadership Conference, and outreach activities. This project allows increased access, awareness and opportunities for students to engage in agriculture education, leadership development and career training in the agricultural industry.
California Exposition & State Fair $9,500
California State Fair Farm Tours Insect Pavilion Station
The California State Fair’s three-acre demonstration farm has been an important partner in agricultural education, showcasing the industry to millions of visitors since 1974. The California State Fair Farm Tours creates educational opportunities for today’s youth to be interested in and excited about farming and agriculture. The Farm is toured by over 5,000 students a year. This project will add a very important element to the already successful State Fair Farm Tours program. While the tours will continue to teach students about California agriculture through the existing learning stations, a new station will be added: The Farm Tour Insect Pavilion. Inside the Insect Pavilion, students will learn about Biodiversity, Invasive Insects, Pollinators, and Climate Change. The Farm Tours Insect Pavilion will engage Kindergarten through Sixth (K-6) grade students in fun, interactive, hands-on science-based curriculum.
Pick a Peck of Produce $7,000
California Foundation for Ag in The Classroom
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (CFAITC) will conduct a six-month taste and teach project to expose students to California commodities. Educators will be provided specific curriculum and hands-on activities for students to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture. The objective is to have the students and teachers complete the project with growth in agricultural literacy and nutritional awareness when the project is completed. This project will reach 750 students from 30 classrooms, focusing on students of low to moderate-income households that are eligible for the Free & Reduced-Price meal program.
EnrichLA Rural Center Expansion $6,500
EnrichLA
The EnrichLA Rural Center Expansion project will develop a fully functioning nursery on land donated by El Sereno Middle School. The nursery will be maintained by the Garden Ranger Program and students of El Sereno, allowing surrounding schools within LA County to receive materials and seedling needed to start their own school garden. These students will have the opportunity to have hands on training teaching them the skills and knowledge to build and sustain their gardens. This project will decrease long-term costs of buying seedlings and empower the EnrichLA community in providing better services as they continue to grow more school gardens and run educational programs.
Madera Fairs “FARM to FAIR” $5,000
Madera District Fair
Madera District Fair will expand the FARM to FAIR venue which features the cornerstone element ‘iFarmers’ Market kiosk by adding an interactive center about responsible water use in farming feature. The educational activity will show water sourcing and farming use by illustrating flood irrigation, micro sprinkler irrigation, and drip irrigation model fields. Interactive raised garden bed displays will educate on local farming and allow guests to water each display to see the effect of each irrigation method. This project will educate children and fair goers about responsible water use in farming and the California agriculture industry.
Project AWE: Dirt to Dinner Educational Program $9,500
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District is renovating the Nicolaus Dairy to create a Dirt-to-Dinner program to enable the use of the site as an agriculture education venue for elementary field trips, high school work-based learning, and to the community. Students will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive hands-on gardening field trip, while farm plots, orchards, and pollinator gardens will be available for high school Career Technical Education program use. This program will facilitate agricultural and environmental education to local students and the community.
Source: CDFA