Ohio Farm Bureau awards ‘Action & Awareness’ grants

By  DOUG GRAVES

Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Farm Bureau (OFB) Foundation has awarded nearly $25,000 in grants in its Action & Awareness program, designed to promote and improve Ohio’s agricultural industry as well as local communities.

The grants, which range from $750 to $9,000, focus on four core areas: economic development, education, environment and human-animal bond. Any non-profit organization with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code (or sponsoring agency with this status) can apply for funds once every 12 month.

 This round of grants were awarded to:

·         AgriPOWER to support programming for the 17 members in Class XII. An elite leadership program by OFB, AgriPOWER is helping develop and train Ohio farmers and representatives from agricultural stakeholders to become effective leaders, spokespersons and advocates for agriculture.

·         Ohio Soybean Council for its Ag Bio-Technology Academy 2020. In June, 30 teachers will participate in two workshops designed to promote agriculture careers and provide hands-on programming focuses on integrating an agriculture bioscience curriculum into high school science classrooms. Ag experts and various agriculture industries will also participate.

·         Ohio Energy Project to sponsor educators participating in its professional development workshops, the Energy Sources Four and Energy Sources Blitz. Teachers receive classroom lessons, curriculum and lab equipment. The program gives teachers behind-the-scenes access to the energy industry by visiting sites involved with energy, showing them the environmental and economic impact of energy use.

·         Ohio Corn Marketing Program to support professional development of 35 Ohio science teachers participating in a two-day “Feed the World” workshop. Teachers will learn about modern agriculture practices in ethanol production, water quality and soil science. These teachers will receive $350 worth of supplies to conduct labs in their classrooms.

·         Northwest State Community Fund for two summer camps that will expand the knowledge of agriculture among northwest Ohio youth. These camps will teach students about the fundamentals of agriculture science and how it impacts our daily lives.

·         Summit County Farm Bureau for its annual Farmers Share Breakfast, which normally draws up to 700. This program offers a breakfast on a farm and attendees learn where their food originates.

·         Hopewell to support its farm life program for adults with serious mental illness. Residents care for and work with a variety of farm animals on this 300-acre working farm in Mesopotamia. Hopewell is the only residential therapeutic farm community in Ohio and one of only five in the United States.

The next application cycle for an Action & Awareness Grant is Jan. 1 to April 30, 2020. To learn more about these grants go to ofbf.org/foundation/aagrants/.