2023 Ag Science Grants

From studying soil to exploring animals – the possibilities are almost endless!

Apply for an Ag Science Grant from McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation to add hands-on learning to your classroom. Pick one of the recommended book bundles or kits (see examples below) or submit your own idea!

Need ideas? Check out the kit list!

Application deadline is Oct. 31, 2023.

Apply Now.

Get the Dirt on Soil!

Dig deeper into the world beneath your feet and explore the science of soil with these resources & learning ag-tivities!

Soil Ag in a Bag

McLean County (IL) teachers can request FREE Soil ag mags and activity kits for their classroom: Click here

Soil Ag-tivities & Reading Materials

For more info:

Videos:

Books to Read – set up a FREE account on openlibrary.org to read these online books for FREE!

Local Ag History Bus Tour

Explore McLean County’s agricultural roots with a morning bus tour lead by local ag historian, Don Meyer, Sat., June 24. Teachers can earn 4 PDCHs courtesy of University of Illinois Extension Livingston-McLean-Woodford Unit.

Tour participants should meet at the McLean County Farm Bureau building at 8 a.m. and the trip will conclude at about 12:30 p.m.

The cost for McLean County Farm Bureau members is $25 per person and non-members is $35 per person. Breakfast pastries and coffee will be available at 7:45 a.m. Bottled water will be available on the bus.

The narrated tour will primarily be on the bus, with one or two brief stops and minimal walking.

The tour will feature sites in southwestern McLean County in and around Stanford, Danvers, McLean and Funk’s Grove including:

  • A tile factory site
  • Cracker Jack crib
  • Moore’s Mill
  • Ghost Towns
  • Funk’s Grove church & cemetery & much more!

A minimum of 30 participants must be registered by June 15 for the tour to be held.

Click here to register

2023 Summer Teacher Workshop

Join us May 30 – June 2 for our 2023 Summer AITC Workshop for Teachers!

  • 4 Days of field trips, tours, hands on lesson ideas & FREE STEM resources
  • Geared for pre-K to grade 12 educators
  • Earn 30 PDCHs (professional development clock hours), plus 2 graduate level college credit hours available (optional/additional fee)
  • Take home lesson ideas, materials & grant opportunities for use in your classroom next year!

Cost is $50 for the workshop.

Tuition for 2 hours of Graduate Credit from St. Francis University is $200

(Course #REAL 694 R Agriscience Educator Institute)

Instructors: Bridget Caldwell, retired Unit 5 educator & past McLean County Ag in the Classroom Coordinator & Katie Buckley, University of Illinois Extension

Please note: Teachers will be responsible for their own transportation to field trip/tour locations, you can arrange your own carpool if desired

Registration deadline May 15, 2023

Click here to register

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