IAA Foundation grants support ag literary

BOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is helping teachers bring agriculture to life for students across the state through IAA Foundation grants, which support hands-on lessons, teacher resources and agricultural literacy programs in Illinois schools.

The IAA Foundation recently awarded $691,961 in grants to 79 agricultural literacy coalitions serving 81 Illinois counties. The funding will support program materials, training, educational lessons and activities during the 2026-2027 school year.

“Our grant to local coalitions works to ensure that teachers across the state have access to materials and accurate resources to integrate agriculture into their existing curriculum from pre-K to12,” said Kevin Daugherty, IAITC education director.

During the 2025-2026 school year, IAITC reached 672,407 students and 49,726 teachers through agricultural literacy lessons. County Agriculture in the Classroom programs also delivered 35,004 individual programs across Illinois.

County coalition grants are made possible through gifts from IAA Foundation funding partners and individuals who support IAITC.

As the charitable arm of Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation raises funds for IAITC each year. In addition to county grants, the foundation supports Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies and other agricultural literacy efforts.

“The IAA Foundation proudly supports the efforts of IAITC and, most importantly, the work of local ag literacy coordinators,” said Susan Moore, IAA Foundation director.

“This is a true partnership in every sense of the word, and we are grateful to all organizations and individuals who give generously to help IAITC remain strong and well respected.”

IAITC partner organizations include IFB, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Agribusiness partners and individuals also provide annual support for IAITC and its agricultural literacy programs.

For information about supporting the IAA Foundation or to view a list of major donors, visit iaafoundation.org. For more information about IAITC, visit agintheclassroom.org.

Counties awarded ag literacy grants:

• Adams

• Bond

• Bureau, Cass/Morgan

• Champaign

• Christian

• Clark

• Clay

• Clinton

• Cook

• Crawford

• Cumberland

• DeKalb

• Douglas/Moultrie

• DuPage

• Edgar

• Edwards

• Effingham

• Ford/Iroquois

• Franklin

• Fulton

• Gallatin

• Grundy/Kendall

• Hamilton

• Hancock

• Henry

• Jackson

• Jasper

• Kane

• Kankakee

• Knox

• Lake

• La Salle

• Lawrence

• Lee

• Livingston

• Logan

• Macon

• Macoupin

• Madison

• Marion

• Marshall/Putnam

• Mason

• Massac

• McDonough

• McHenry

• McLean

• Menard

• Mercer

• Monroe

• Montgomery

• Ogle

• Peoria

• Perry

• Piatt

• Pulaski/Alexander

• Randolph

• Richland

• Rock Island

• Saline

• Sangamon

• Shelby

• St. Clair

• Stark

• Stephenson

• Union

• Vermilion

• Wabash

• Warren/Henderson

• Washington

• Wayne

• White

• Whiteside

• Will

• Williamson

• Winnebago/Boone

• Woodford