Over $123,000 in Grant Funding Available to Boost Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education in Minnesota; Applications due April 15
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Sarah Dornink
Executive Director, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council
tesm0010@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624 - 6249
ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 19, 2026) - The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is now accepting applications for its grant program, offering more than $123,000 to support programming for agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) education.
Designed to bolster programming at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels, the grants provide funding for projects that align with the 2030 Minnesota AFNR Education Blueprint. Applicants may request between $1,500 and $25,000 per project.
"Education is the foundation of Minnesota’s agricultural success, and these grants are designed to empower the educators who lead the way," said Sarah Dornink, Executive Director of MAELC." By investing directly in classroom innovation and teacher support, we are ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality, hands-on learning experience that brings agriculture to life."
Grant Priorities: Investing in Students, Programs and Instructors
Priority will be given to school-based agricultural education and post-secondary programs, or for projects connected to school districts or colleges/universities. The Minnesota Legislature provides this funding through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to be administered by MAELC.
Projects should address at least one of the strategies within the following MAELC goal areas:
- Increasing student access, awareness, and participation
- Improving programming content, meeting facilities and equipment needs, and providing the best method of instruction to meet the needs of the AFNR industry
- Recruiting, retaining, and supporting highly qualified instructors
How to Apply
Apply online at mn.gov/maelc/grants.html to submit your project proposal. Applications are due April 15, 2026. More information can be found in the .
MAELC will host a virtual grant office hour via Zoom to answer questions regarding project ideas and the application process.
MAELC Education Grant Office Hour
April 7, 2026
3:30 PM Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting - https://umn.zoom.us/j/96469865009
Meeting ID: 964 6986 5009
About MAELC - MAELC is a 16-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council. Since its establishment, MAELC has provided over $32 million in competitive grants, scholarships, and sponsored projects.