Kentucky FFA Foundation Awards $20,000 to Help Fund New and Transitioning Agricultural Education Programs

The Kentucky FFA Foundation has awarded $20,000 in the form of nine grants to Kentucky schools who are starting new agricultural education programs or who are working to revitalize their existing ag programs.

Agricultural education provides a fresh take on lessons about science, math, leadership and a wide variety of other topics, giving students an opportunity to learn in ways that more closely mirror the type of problem-solving they’ll be expected to do in their future careers.

Agriculture classes are often hands-on and inquiry-based, challenging students to look at a problem and figure out the solution through research and exploration. This type of real-world learning means ag teachers often need funding for workshops and laboratories, plus money to take students to FFA conferences and competitions where they can practice what they have learned in class. FFA is the leadership education portion of agricultural education. 

The Kentucky FFA Foundation started the Rising Sun grant program in 2015, when its board identified a need to support new and transitioning programs as one of its priorities. In only three years, it has awarded $72,500 to new and transitioning agriculture programs. The funding for Rising Sun grants comes through Kentucky FFA’s LEAD Endowment, from the Kentucky Ag. Development Fund.

“Finances are sometimes the biggest hurdle to success for first year agriculture teachers, those chartering programs, or reviving programs,” said Sheldon McKinney, executive director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. “We wanted to give them a head start.”

Agriculture teachers in a new or transitioning program can apply for a one-time grant up to $5,000. This year’s recipients were four new programs; Fayette County, Carroll County, Adair County, and Barren County middle schools, and five programs in transition; Harlan County, McLean County, Simon Kenton, Menifee County, and Elliot County high schools.

Applicants will use awarded funds to offset the cost of a wide range of program-related expenses, from purchasing FFA jackets, to conference registrations, to laboratory equipment and supplies.

The Kentucky FFA Foundation cultivates partnerships which support the FFA vision to grow leaders, build communities, and strengthen agriculture. Kentucky FFA Foundation initiatives impact nearly 14,000 FFA members in 151 FFA chapters across Kentucky.