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Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom

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Grants & Teacher Award

Agriculture in the Classroom seeks to encourage Virginia teachers to integrate agriculture into their daily curriculum. To celebrate and support teachers who do so, Agriculture in the Classroom offers its Teacher of the Year Award as well as Garden and Agriculture Experience Grants.

Teacher of the Year

If you have an innovative approach to incorporating agriculture into your classroom, then apply to be Agriculture in the Classroom's 2025 Teacher of the Year. The winner will receive a $500 stipend and a trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference June 23-26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Applications are due by December 9, 2024

Grant Program

Agriculture in the Classroom provides educators an opportunity to receive grant funding for a variety of creative projects to increase student understanding of the source of food and fiber inside or outside the traditional classroom. Educators are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $500 for projects that may occur at school or during home learning time. Grant projects may address topics such as learning gardens and/or STEM integrations, or provide unique agriculture experiences for students.

All applications are due by October 13, 2024.
Highlights from Previous Grant Recipients
  • Preschool students in Hopewell learned about a chicken's life cycle with an egg hatching unit
  • PK-2 students in Henrico grew their own plants, participated in a mini-market and capped off the unit with a visit from the Farm Bus
  • Elementary students in Franklin attended an Ag Day that increased their knowledge of where their food comes from
  • Preschool students in Arlington used a Grow Lab to jump start their own school garden
  • Middle school FFA members in Mecklenburg celebrated National Ag Day by teaching elementary students in their county about agriculture
  • Third grade students in Caroline learned about aquaponics and celebrated with a salad party
  • Elementary students in Buckingham participated in a "Sheep to Socks" project and learned about wool and other animal products
  • Elementary students in Virginia Beach planted and harvested a salad garden