RICHMOND, VA (Virginia Farm Bureau) — Are you an educator who’s always wanted to plant a school garden? Or maybe you want to organize farm-to-table activities.

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom wants to help teachers integrate creative agricultural projects and learning experiences inside and outside their classrooms. Through its educator grant program, the nonprofit provides funding for teachers to expand children’s understanding about the sources of their food and fiber, and how farming and agriculture impact their daily lives.

AITC will award over $30,000 for the 2025-26 school year to support educator projects. Teachers and other organizations like 4-H clubs and FFA chapters that work with schools and parent-teacher associations can apply for up to $500 for agriculture-related initiatives.

“Many students have little connection to where their food comes from, and these grants help bridge that gap,” said Lynn Black, Virginia AITC’s director of education. “Through hands-on projects like learning gardens, egg incubators and growing systems, teachers can bring agriculture to life in their classrooms. These projects also offer lasting educational benefits, with many being used across different grade levels and even among entire schools.”

The deadline for grant applications is Oct. 13. However, applications received by Aug. 15 are eligible for AITC’s “early bird” notification. This early decision lets educators begin their projects at the beginning of the school year. Instructors who complete the application early will be notified by Sept. 8.

Grant projects can occur at school, during home learning or in the community, and may include learning gardens, STEM integrations or unique agricultural experiences for students. Previous projects ranged from classroom hydroponic gardens to composting systems and student-led mini farmers markets. Some attended local Ag Day events, while others took part in farm-to-table activities—cooking produce that they grew.

Last year, AITC awarded 68 grants, totaling over $33,000 and reaching 25,000 youth. One project was led by Emalee Owens, a kindergarten teacher at Fredericksburg Academy in Fredericksburg. She and her students built a schoolwide sensory garden with herbs and native vegetation for pollinators and wildlife.

“Our students participated in every part of our garden plan,” Owens said. Through cultivating and harvesting herbs and native plants, students learned about plant nutrition, life cycles, insects and pollination. Academic lessons about the garden covered math, science, language arts and social studies.

“Most importantly, our garden helped students develop a deep personal connection to the natural world,” she said. “All of our students enjoy picking herbs and viewing the wildlife that’s attracted to the garden. These lessons will stick with them for a lifetime.”

To apply for a grant, or to learn more about educational activities available through Virginia AITC, visit virginia.agclassroom.org/teachers/grants.

The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture through education and outreach activities. To learn more and support, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.