2024-25 George Holder Agriculture Awareness Grant
History: To honor the late George E. Holder, his family has established an instructional grant to increase agriculture awareness in McLean County schools. Mr. Holder was a graduate of University of Illinois in 1927 and a McLean County native and farmer. He began his family farming business in the late 1930’s and continued with active participation until his death in 2000 at the age of 95. He enjoyed a lifelong interest in farming innovation, especially corn hybridization. The Holder Grant is provided through the family foundation in honor of George Holder and his wife, Elizabeth. It is the family’s wish that this grant be awarded to a K-12 McLean County teacher who will use the funds to promote agricultural awareness in the classroom.
Funding: This year, the George E. Holder Agriculture Awareness Grant will be awarded to a teacher who will use the funds to promote intentional gardening in one of the following categories:
- Pollinator Gardens
- Sensory Gardens
- Rain Gardens
- Food Accessibility:
- Food Forest
- Gardening with Season Extenders
- Production
- Edible Landscaping
*Other options will be considered as long as it falls within a similar purpose as the list provided above.
Application Process: To apply for this grant, a K-12 McLean County teacher must submit a proposal using this online application to outline the type of garden chosen, a supply list needed for the garden, who the garden will serve and how it is serving those people. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 13th, 2024. Winners of the grant will be notified by Monday, November 4, 2024 and recognized at the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Ag Breakfast that will take place in March 2025. Details for the breakfast will be sent to grant recipients in early 2025.
Expectations of the Holder Grant: The grant recipient is expected to provide the following.
- receipts for purchases made up to the amount awarded
- an impact statement demonstrating the impact of the grant funding
- 5 pictures to illustrate the project
- completed demographic form sent to you by Extension
- signed photo releases for students in the pictures sent
Please note that this grant is given as a reimbursement of the funds approved in the grant proposal. Reimbursement will be sent based on submission of all items listed above.
As always, thank you for your dedication to promoting agriculture and the educational development of youth.