Marion City Schools will receive a $40,000 Grow Ohio grant to support programs that provide agricultural education opportunities for youth.
It is one of 14 grants totaling $332,960 announced by Governor Mike DeWine and Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Employment.
The district will offer educational activities around local agriculture for preschool and 8-year-olds. Students will learn how to grow and prepare a variety of fresh produce in classrooms using the “Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons” lesson plans developed by Ohio State Extension.
Elementary and middle school students visit the district’s farm at Harding High School year-round to expand their knowledge and learn more about the agricultural education pathway the district offers.
Marion City Schools will also develop a “Bring the Farm to You” program series that will bring agricultural producers into classrooms to talk about food production opportunities such as maple sugar production and beekeeping. Books on agriculture, gardening, food and nutrition will be purchased for schools to facilitate literacy instruction on farm topics in school.
“The programs supported by our Grow Ohio grants will enrich the lives of children across Ohio,” DeWine said in a press release. “My wife, Fran, is passionate about teaching young people where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates, and that’s exactly what these programs do: provide them with firsthand experience in the rewarding process of growing, harvesting and preparing fresh food.”
The grantees will provide activities for children that support farm-to-school projects, such as outdoor and indoor school gardens, hydroponics, working with local food producers, and food literacy activities. Many of the grantees plan to incorporate food produced through their programs into school meals.
In addition, Grow Ohio Grants aim to provide students with the opportunity to learn about possible careers in agriculture and to strengthen relationships between Ohio food producers and sponsors of child nutrition programs.
