Otsego Local Schools has been announced as a finalist for a America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant
from the Monsanto Fund.
From January through March, farmers across the country nominated their local public school districts for
the grants.
Once nominated, these districts were eligible to submit completed grant applications in April.
Over the past month, a panel of educators from ineligible counties reviewed all of the grant
applications. The strongest submissions were selected as finalists and will be sent to the America’s
Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council for final review.
Composed of farmer-leaders from across the U.S. with a vested interest in both agriculture and education,
the advisory council will select the winning school districts.
Otsego is in the running for a grant of up to $25,000. The winning grant recipients will be announced in
early August.
Last year, Grow Rural Education invested $120,000 in public school districts across Ohio to improve math
and science curriculum.
Since 2012, Ohio school districts have received $215,000 through the program.
Grow Rural Education grants have allowed rural schools to invest in the enhancement of student learning
in math and science.
Past grant recipients used funding for projects such as technology and scientific lab equipment upgrades,
greenhouses and outdoor classroom learning environments, teacher and curriculum development and other
math and science-related initiatives.
For a complete list of the 2014 America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education finalists and past winners, visit
www.AmericasFarmers.com.