By Andi Anderson
The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation has announced its 2025 Workforce Development & Ag Literacy Grants, awarding $20,000 to county Farm Bureaus. These grants aim to boost agricultural literacy and create pathways for students to explore careers in agriculture. Each grant, valued at $5,000, supports educational programs focusing on grades 6-12.
Kelly Burns, executive director of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, saying, “Opening students’ eyes to opportunities in agriculture is vital to the farm and food industry’s success.”
The 2025 grant recipients and their programs include:
Clermont County Farm Bureau:
The "School to Farm Sustainable Agriculture Workforce Development" program offers 11 sessions for high school students. It partners with local organizations to teach agriculture careers, workforce readiness, and internship opportunities.
Holmes County Farm Bureau:
The "All In for Life Skills Camp and Job Expo" combines three programs: Life Skills Camp, the community Job Expo, and West Holmes FFA’s All-In Week. This initiative focuses on life skills, personal development, and career exploration.
Muskingum County Farm Bureau:
The "Farm Fresh Pop-Up Learning Market" engages students in an interactive farmers’ market experience. Students use tokens to buy local produce while learning about marketing and agriculture from FFA participants.
Pike County Farm Bureau:
The "Life of a Real Farmer" program creates a book highlighting Farm Bureau members’ careers. The book is used in Ag Career Connections programs for 8th graders and distributed to schools and libraries.
These initiatives not only promote agricultural literacy but also ensure the next generation understands the diverse opportunities within the food and farm system. The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s efforts continue to shape future leaders in agriculture.
Photo Credit: ohio-farm-bureau
Categories: Ohio, Education