We believe agricultural education students should have the maximum opportunity to grow and succeed, leaving high school as prepared as is possible for the world ahead. That's why we believe in enhancing the curriculum, the opportunities, and the tools available in agricultural education classrooms through the Learning by Doing Grants. There are three types of grants available through the Learning By Doing Grant program: grants for students to develop their Supervised Agricultural Experience, grants for FFA chapters to provide classroom materials that further agricultural instruction or fund community service projects, and grants for agriculture teachers for professional development or teaching materials.
The Foundation has awarded $96,327.10 to support agriculture education through this grant program over the last 6 years. With the support of Pioneer Seeds, Farm and Home Foundation of Lancaster, Ag Choice and MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Lancaster Ag Council, Bell & Evans, Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, and concessions sales at Ag Progress Days and PA Farm Show, the Pennsylvania FFA Foundation was very excited to award $30,000 in 2020, to Learning By Doing Grant winners. This is an increase of $18,000 from grants awarded in 2019.
In 2020, we received 125 grant applications; this is three times the number of applications we received in previous years.
Grant applications are judged by a group of volunteers including Pennsylvania FFA Foundation Trustees, retired agricultural education instructors, and industry leaders. Applicant names and schools are removed from the application prior to being sent to the judges which allow applications to be judged solely on criteria outlined in the scorecard.
With the generous support of The Pennsylvania Commission for Ag Excellence and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, the Pennsylvania FFA Foundation is pleased to announce another opportunity to apply for a Learning by Doing Grant. To apply, click on the appropriate link below.
Supervised Agricultural Experience or FFA Members Online Application
Ag Educators or FFA Advisors Online Application
FFA Chapters Online Application
Advisor's Signature Page
Applications Due: April 30, 2021
Awarding of Grants: May 7, 2021
Impact Report Due: October 1, 2021
Recognition: FFA Summer Convention
Additional Resources:
2020-21 Learning by Doing Flyer
2020-21 Score Card
2020-21 Learning By Doing Reporting Form
FFA Members/SAEs Benjamin McElroy Megan Garber Jaylen Ray Mackenzie Kerkeslager Abigail Mitchell Jedda Levy Cale Rice Michael Lewis Tristen Foley Chad Hoover Melanie Swendsen Abigail Camasta Allee Hoover Adria Russell Ellis Turner Andrew Smith Molly Pifer Courtney Martin Hailey Bucha Nicole Pierce Vita Failla Jenna Smith James Patterson Natasha Maddox Brianna Grim |
Agriculture Educators Thomas Hojnowski Anna Herman John Siefert Victoria Brown Brandon Witmer Doug Brown Tom Ritchey Kelse Brown Phil Haussener and Kacey Rice Melanie Berndtson Hannah Harris
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Chapters Otto-Eldred Bermudian Athens Northeast Bradford Rockwood Headwaters Blackhawk
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Supervised Agricultural Experience - Greenhouse
Supervised Agricultural Experience - Sheep Jugs, Adding a Barrier of Protection
Supervised Agricultural Experience - Beef Nutrition and Handling
Chapter Grant - Chicken BBQ Cooker Trailer
Chapter Grant - Fort Cherry School District Tree Identification Project
Agriculture Teacher Grant - Pequea Valley Bird Biodiversity Project
Agriculture Teacher Grant - Pequea Valley Poultry Processing Station