LA MONTE, Mo. (Oct. 21, 2013) – Students in the La Monte R-IV School District will soon be working with one of the most vital tools in the agriculture industry. Thanks to the support of local farmers and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, La Monte R-IV received a $10,000 grant to purchase GPS systems, which will help students complete fertilizer applications, seed germinations and yield analyses. Students will experiment with the technology on a nearby field to learn about precision agriculture.

America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, offers farmers the chance to nominate a local public school district, which can then compete for a grant of up to $25,000 to enhance math and/or science education. More than 1,150 nominated school districts submitted applications. The Monsanto Fund will invest $2.3 million through America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grants this year.

“America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is such as worthwhile program,” said Marshall Streit, La Monte R-IV agriculture teacher. “It gives schools that have limited resources the ability to provide life-changing opportunities for their students.”

La Monte R-IV was presented with the $10,000 grant on Thursday, Oct. 17, during their annual hog roast.

Nominated school districts across the country submitted grant applications in the spring. During the summer, a panel of educators from ineligible districts reviewed and evaluated applications based on merit, need and community involvement. The strongest submissions were then sent to the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council. The Advisory Council, comprised of farmer-leaders with an interest in agriculture and education, selected the winning grant applications from this pool of finalists.

“A record number of America’s farmers stepped up this year to improve math and science education in farming communities across the country,” said Deborah Patterson, Monsanto Fund president. “By nominating their local school districts to compete for this grant opportunity, these farmers demonstrated their dedication to growing the next generation. The Monsanto Fund is committed to strengthening rural America and this program is an exciting way to honor that commitment.”

America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education launched nationally in 2012 and has grown to include 1,271 eligible counties in 39 states. Since its inception, the program has invested more than $4.8 million in rural school districts across the country.

This press release was provided by Osborn Barr.

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