Calling all ag teachers! $75,000 available for ag-focused projects

For 75 years, the CHS Foundation has helped develop the next generation of ag leaders for lifelong success. In honor of this milestone, the CHS Foundation will award $75,000 in grants for K-12 teachers to implement a project at their school that will engage students in experiential agricultural education.

“Throughout the years, it’s the people who have transformed our contributions into life-changing impact for young leaders in agriculture, and teachers have played a major role,” says Nanci Lilja, president, CHS Foundation. “We are proud of the teachers who put many of these contributions to work, and we’re thrilled that these grants will continue to support their efforts.” 

Funds will be awarded for projects that have a strong tie to agriculture and clearly demonstrate how they will engage students in agricultural topics. Teachers are encouraged to dream big, but ideas include implementing a new ag class or pathway or purchasing agriculture equipment for hands-on learning. 

Written and video submissions will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2022. First place will be awarded $20,000, second place will receive $15,000 and third place will receive $10,000. An additional 12 finalists will each receive $2,500. The top three teacher finalists will travel all expenses paid to the CHS Annual Meeting Dec. 1 – 2, 2022, held in Minneapolis, Minn., to present their ideas to a live audience. First, second and third place winners will be decided during live voting by annual meeting attendees.  

Additional program details include: 

• Applications must be submitted by a teacher, and applicants must have school administration approval for the project. 
• The program is open to any K-12 educators in a CHS trade territory (Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). 

“Over the span of 75 years, the CHS Foundation has contributed nearly $84 million to help build a strong agriculture talent pipeline for the future,” says Lilja. “The last 75 years of giving would be nothing without strong educators and students involved in agriculture, and together the next 75 years will be just as bright.”