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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 16th 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:
• Those 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; or
• Equipment purchases and capital projects.
Matching Grant projects that may be considered for funding include:
• Capital projects relating to agriculture or rural issues; or
• 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 402 Direct Grants and 62 Matching Grants totaling more than $1.4 million 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. All grant applications are due by Oct. 31 of each year to Kristi Rooker, 2301 N. Cameron Street, Room 311, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
For more information, contact Kristi Rooker at 717-346-4202 or krooker@state.pa.us.
Additional Information
2008-2009 Direct and Matching Grant Guidelines
Exhibit A-1 Program Guidelines (PDF)
Forms
Application for a Direct Grant (PDF)
Application for a Matching Grant (PDF)
2007 DIRECT GRANT RECIPIENTS
Adams County
Gettysburg FFA: $2,500 to develop science-based, college preparatory
curriculum that prepares students for careers in agriculture.
Berks County
Conrad Weiser FFA: $2,500 to develop biotechnology curriculum
entitled, “Think Ag…Think Again.”
Kutztown FFA: $2,500 to purchase a floral refrigerator for horticulture
and floriculture classes.
Blair County
Tyrone FFA: $2,500 to provide new curriculum for students in soil analysis, food
science and forestry.
Butler County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Northwest Region: $2,500 to construct
pens to provide safe housing for 4-H animal projects.
Crawford County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Northwest Region: $2,446.50 to provide
learning lab kits and holding pens for livestock.
Cumberland County
Mid-Atlantic Alliance of Cooperatives: $2,500 to provide a four-day summer
youth business and leadership institute for 4-H and FFA youth.
Dauphin County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Capitol Region: $2,500 for Ag Ventures
Camp, a day camp for youth grades 4-6 to learn about farm animal care, food
production and environmental issues.
Greene County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Southwest Region: $2,500 to provide a
bus tour of non-traditional and alternative agriculture to youth.
Indiana County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Southwest Region: $2,500 for 4-H Youth
Food Safety Programs to teach students about food safety concerns.
Jefferson County
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Central Region: $2,500 for leadership
training of 4-H members.
Lancaster County
Grassland FFA: $2,500 to add a biotechnology course to the agricultural
science curriculum.
Pequea Vally FFA: $2,500 to host a farmer appreciation day for the
non-agricultural public.
Lawrence County
Penn State Cooperative Extension – Northwest Region: $2,500 to teach
Lawrence County fourth graders about agriculture.
Lebanon County
Northern Lebanon FFA: $2,500 to purchase a refrigerator case and other
supplies for a floriculture class.
Luzerne County
Northwest FFA: $2,500 to purchase a wood lathe, wood lathe tools and a
jointer for shop classes.
Montgomery County
Penn State Cooperative Extension – Southeast Region: $2,500 to conduct
three veterinary animal science day camps for 4-H members age 9-13.
Montour County
Danville FFA: $2,500 to provide a sun-loving plant identification lab area for
students.
Perry County
Greenwood School District: $2,497 to provide equipment for
non-agricultural students to participate in the market livestock project.
Philadelphia County
Horticulture Academy of Abraham Lincoln High School: $2,500 for student
research and participation in the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Somerset County
Penn State Cooperative Extension – Southwest Region: $1,334 to provide
supplies for a school enrichment embryology project.
Berlin Brothersvalley FFA: $2,483 to provide an aquaculture system for the
classroom.
Washington County
McGuffey FFA: $2,500 to purchase flash drives and a hydraulic trainer
station.
York County
Kennard Dale FFA: $2,500 to use the greenhouse as an educational
center for the Kennard Dale Kids Program, allowing students to sow, tend and
harvest vegetables.
Statewide
Pennsylvania Grange: $2,500 to provide workshops and fellowship for 50
youth learning about agriculture.
2007 MATCHING GRANT RECIPIENTS
Crawford County
Conneaut Valley FFA: $10,000 to purchase landscape tools and a tool
storage facility.
Dauphin County
Dauphin County Technical School: $5,000 to purchase a veterinary
anesthesia machine for large and small animals.
Huntingdon County
Huntingdon FFA: $2,642.25 to increase learning and career development
opportunities in aquaculture and hydroponics.
Perry County
West Perry FFA: $10,000 to purchase a smart board and computers and
projector to support the smart board.
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia FFA: $10,000 to make updates to the dairy facility at W.B.
Saul Agricultural High School.
Schuylkill County
Pine Grove FFA: $10,000 to construct a greenhouse at the school.
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