The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation with support from Lancaster County Farm Bureau is offering eight $1,000 scholarships for teachers to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference. The scholarship applications are due February 5th and the conference is being held June 28 – July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa.
The National Agriculture in the Classroom conference brings hundreds of teachers, volunteers, informal educators, and industry experts from across the country to share ideas, network, and celebrate agricultural literacy. At this time, the conference is planning to be held in-person. Conference planners are also considering a hybrid format with an in-person option for those registrants who can travel and a live-streaming option for those who can’t travel. National Agriculture in the Classroom continues to keep a close eye on COVID-related travel restrictions nationwide and will notify attendees if anything changes.
This conference moves to a different region every year and is only in the Midwest every four years. With this year’s conference within driving distance, we want to see as many Nebraska teachers attend as possible!
What: National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
Where: Des Moines, Iowa
When: June 28 – July 1, 2021
Award: Eight, $1,000 Scholarships
Eligibility: Certified Nebraska kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers currently teaching at a public or private school in Nebraska.
For five scholarships, preference will be given to applicants teaching elementary or middle school in Lancaster county.
For three scholarships, no preference for teaching location or grade level.
Timeline
- Applications due February 5th
- Applicants notified March 1
- $435 dispersed to winning applicants March 15th
- Early-bird registration due for conference mid-April
- Remaining amount of award dispersed June 1
- Attend conference June 28 – July 1
- Attend in-person or via video-chat the September 2020 (date TBD) Lancaster County Farm Bureau board of directors meeting to share experience of conference. (If attending the meeting is not possible, submit a one-page report about your conference experience by August 31 to foundationforag@nefb.org.)
Selection Criteria
A committee composed of agricultural literacy stakeholders with a working knowledge of agriculture and/or education programs will evaluate the applications. Each evaluator will be asked to score the applications according to the following criteria:
- The applicant has demonstrated use of Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom resources and programs.
- The applicant has demonstrated through past programs an ability to create innovative programs to teach students about food, fiber, and fuel.
- The applicant communicates a compelling reason for why he/she wants to attend the conference.
- The applicant explains why agricultural literacy is important in formal classroom learning.
- For five of the eight scholarships, preference will be given to applicants who teach elementary or middle school in Lancaster County.
Apply today to receive a scholarship to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference!