Students around Florida will have the opportunity to increase their knowledge about the importance of the state’s agriculture industry thanks to 23 volunteer grant projects Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., has selected for funding for 2008.

The non-profit association based in Gainesville approved grant projects around the state, many of them to be carried out by University of Florida/IFAS Extension and 4-H programs, county Farm Bureaus, local fair organizations, middle school and high school agri-science programs and other non-profit organizations. It will spend more than $24,000 and project organizers estimate they will reach more than 63,000 students statewide as part of these projects.

Florida Ag in the Classroom uses proceeds from the sale of the agriculture specialty license plate, or the ag tag, to fund its teacher and volunteer grants programs, among other Florida Ag in the Classroom programs.

The organization is now accepting applications for Teacher Grants for the 2008-09 school year. The application and guidelines are available on Florida Ag in the Classroom's Web site at www.agtag.org. Application deadline is Oct. 1.

 

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