2025 White-Reinhardt Grant Winners Selected

We have awarded $10,000 in grants to 10 communities across the nation through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program. The White-Reinhardt Grant Program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and State Farm Bureaus apply for grants up to $1,000 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs.  We received nearly 100 applications and encourage the non-chosen applicants to try again in 2026!

Learn more about what these projects will be doing below.

Barrow County Farm Bureau, GA 

Barrow County Farm Bureau plans to create a hands-on learning lab titled "Ag: Exploring Electricity in Agriculture." Their students will explore wiring power technologies like irrigation systems, poultry house automation, greenhouse climate control, and fencing. The lab will equip students with reusable electrical kits and mock wiring panels, encouraging a learning-by-doing experience. This initiative blends ag mechanics, literacy, and career readiness, expanding traditional agricultural education to include technical trades and infrastructure.  

Brown County Farm Bureau, OH 

Brown County plans to create educational kits using the AFBFA 2019 Book of the Year, "Right This Very Minute." The "Ag Literacy: Right This Very Minute!" kits will provide agricultural awareness to K-2 elementary school students. The kits will include "Right This Very Minute" and ready-to-use activity materials that offer a hands-on learning experience for students. With these kits, Brown County plans to reach 750 students. 

Contra County Farm Bureau, CA 

Contra County is gearing up for its town's Farm Fest. Farm Fest is a one-day educational event designed to engage K-12 students and the public in hands-on agricultural literacy experiences. This event will feature interactive stations covering a wide range of agricultural topics, including livestock, crop science, soil health, modern family technology, plant propagation, and the history of their regional farming community. 

Dallas County Farm Bureau, IA 

Dallas County has partnered with the District Farm to School program, Dallas Ag in the Classroom, and ISU Extension to bring an exciting egg hatching experiment to life. This experience aims to reach elementary, middle, and high school students. For this experience, each participating school has an “egg lead” who follows a detailed hatching guide, walking them through every step of the process, which includes setting up the incubator, monitoring eggs, caring for the chicks, and rehoming the chicks once they hatch. 

Howard County Farm Bureau, MD 

For the third year in a row, Howard County plans to implement "Ag Awareness Day" for 7th-grade students. On this day, the students will have the opportunity to visit stations to learn about agriculture and its many facets. Some stations include various agricultural careers such as livestock production, crop production, and ag technology. This program aims to increase 7th graders' agricultural awareness and the possibility of having a future career in agriculture. 

Meeker County Farm Bureau, MN 

Meeker County has partnered with its 4-H ambassadors and the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener program to create an innovative agricultural literacy program entitled “Blueberries and Hydroponics: Growing Knowledge.” Meeker County plans to introduce elementary school students to blueberry cultivation, with a hands-on learning experience including a hydroponic system and the book “I Love Blueberries.” Meeker County plans to visit public, private, and homeschool cooperatives in their county.  

Ottawa County Farm Bureau, MI 

Ottawa County plans to expand its spotlight on the Ag Readers “SOAR” program with the funds from this grant. This current program aims to bring agriculture to life for elementary students by providing books and connecting them with industry volunteers. With Agribusiness being the main career focus area, Ottawa County plans to provide the students with “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden,” “Farmer Will,” and the “Growing Table” books. Volunteers from Michigan’s agribusiness community, ranging from growers, food production professionals, MSU Extension educators, and college students, will read the selected book and share their career journey.   

Pulaski County Farm Bureau, AR

Pulaski County has partnered with Dorcus House, a women’s shelter, to undertake the project “Plant, Cook, Learn: Growing Agricultural Literacy at Dorcus House.” This program will provide a hands-on, multi-sensory educational experience centered on agriculture through cooking lessons, planting small container gardens, and literacy sessions, which include a children’s book about agriculture. This program aims to build awareness of agriculture as it relates to daily life, such as where food comes from, how it’s grown, and how agriculture connects to our health, nutrition, and sustainability. 

Richland County Farm Bureau, IL 

With the funds given, Richland County plans to provide an interactive display for their county fair, where participants can build a nest like solitary bees. To accompany the nest-building activity, Richland County plans to have a game as well. Both the exhibit and game will help students understand the difference between bumble bees, honeybees, and solitary bees and how the solitary bee plays a significant role in the Illinois ecosystem. 

Washington County Farm Bureau, UT 

 With the provided funds, Washington County plans to implement a project titled “Book Barns,” which is a creative literacy initiative to ignite agricultural understanding for elementary school students. Washington County plans to build barn-shaped bookcases stocked with children’s books highlighting agriculture, food systems, livestock, stewardship, and rural life. With the installation of these book barns, the schools can expect a visit from a ranch reader, i.e., a Farm Bureau member or a volunteer, to read a book aloud and share their own agricultural experiences.