2025 Learning From the Ground Up Garden Grant
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Texas Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom's Learning from the Ground Up Garden Grant Program was created to support schools that strive to help students understand the source of their food, fiber, and fuel and to help Texas school children gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of agriculture. The Learning from the Ground Up Garden Grant Program seeks to connect small-scale gardening to farming operations, so students understand food production.

Qualifying projects will provide students with hands-on, experiential learning about agriculture through the funding of a new garden project or improvements to an existing garden or greenhouse. Aquaponic and hydroponic systems are eligible if they are used to teach food production. We encourage teachers to think outside the box and adapt programs to fit school circumstances, which might include container gardens, etc. Food production and learning truly happens here, there, and everywhere!

This program awards $500 grants with the possibility of matching funds from a County Farm Bureau (this is determined by the county once an application has been selected through the grant program). Forty-five grants will be awarded. 

For issues with document uploads or other issues with the Reviewr system please submit a support ticket at https://www.reviewr.com/help-center-applicant/ and click the orange "Request support" button in the center of the screen. Additional resources that may address your issue(s) can be found on the same webpage. For questions regarding the application, please contact edoutreach@txfb.org or 254-751-2569.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
1. Any certified, active PK-12 teacher (all subject areas) teaching in a public school or PK-12 teacher (all subject areas) teaching in an accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution.

2. For agricultural science teachers applying for the grant, the project must incorporate elementary, junior high, or other non-ag high school students into the project in some capacity as to increase agricultural literacy outside of general agricultural courses. The applications submitted MUST clearly identify the plan to how the project will incorporate elementary, junior high, or other non-ag high school students. A letter of support from the partnering non-ag teacher is required to accompany the application. 

3. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents directly connected to a class in a public school district or accredited non-public elementary and secondary educational institution may apply when the project will directly engage with a particular classroom of students. A letter of support from the partnering teacher at the school is required to accompany the application. 

PROJECT AND APPLICATION GUIDELINES
1. Agricultural concepts must be used. Projects must directly engage students in hands-on learning that expands knowledge of food production and agricultural practices.

2. Students must be directly engaged in the educational component.

3. For agricultural science teachers applying for the grant, the project must incorporate elementary, junior high, or other non-ag high school students into the project in some capacity as to increase agricultural literacy outside of general agricultural courses. The applications submitted MUST clearly identify the plan to how the project will incorporate elementary, junior high, or other non-ag high school students. A letter of support from the partnering non-ag teacher is required to accompany the application. 

4. High school teachers teaching courses other than agricultural science courses are eligible to apply.

5. Applications must include a timeline of the project and list all community partners. The timeline must include months rather than just phases (i.e. "phase 1, phase 2, etc.")

6. A detailed budget with estimated expenses must be included in the application.

7. Grant checks will be made payable to the school, not to an individual or organization.

8. Only one grant application per school may be submitted per grant cycle (an elementary school and a middle school from the same district can each submit an application, but two applications for the same elementary school cannot).

9. Project must be science based.