|
The Agricultural Rural and Youth Grant Program is a competitive program that seeks projects to increase the knowledge and awareness of agricultural and rural issues among the youth in Pennsylvania.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Program offers eligible organizations the opportunity to apply for a matching grant up to $10,000 and a direct grant up to $2,500. Organizations comprised of persons eighteen (18) years of age or younger and are organized and recognized within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote development of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship are considered eligible applicants.
Direct Grant projects that may be considered for funding include:
- Related to agriculture or rural issues
- Educational programs relating to agriculture or rural issues and conducted by the applicant
- Educational seminars or field trips relating to agriculture or rural issues attended by the organization
- Agriculture safety training programs
- Equipment purchases and capital projects
Matching Grant projects that may be considered for funding include:
- Capital projects relating to agriculture or rural issues
- Purchase of equipment to be used in the course of an agricultural project or a project relating to rural issues
Since 1992, the Department has awarded 327 Direct Grants and 45 Matching Grants totaling $1,120,649.80 to FFA, 4-H, agricultural extension, and agricultural educational organizations statewide.
Matching grants have been awarded to projects that include: a greenhouse facility to provide space for additional aquaculture and hydroponics units; purchase of a CDE Scoring System to score competitive judging events and develop skills in evaluating livestock; addition of a lath house to modernize an agricultural education department greenhouse; and, the construction of a building utilizing solar panels to showcase the most recent and innovative energy efficient barn structures.
Direct grants have been awarded to projects that include: a program for FFA members to develop and share agricultural related activities with middle school students; an educational project for 125-150 4-H dairy and 100 livestock youth that featured lectures, demonstrations and presentations on agricultural careers; a project to fund a safety camp for students focusing on tractor operator certification; purchase of equipment for use by FFA students in agricultural mechanics and technology classes; co-op extension educational series that focused on the dairy industry; purchase of microscopes for use by 4-H in studying plant and animal cell samples; and, a cooperative extension project to fund a teen leadership development series.
Subject to the availability of funds, the application period is announced in September. At that time, a press release is issued statewide and application materials will be available.
Additional Information
Forms
For More Information
|