Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday the approval of $500,000 in Ag and Youth Grants for 55 projects that aim to improve access to agriculture education in Pennsylvania.
“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and agribusiness owners,” Wolf said. “This $500,000 is the seed to tomorrow’s bountiful future for Pennsylvania agriculture.”
In July, Wolf signed Act 40 to reenact Pennsylvania’s Ag and Youth Grant Program as part of the Pennsylvania Farm Bill.
The program, funded at $500,000, provides youth organizations with direct, non-matching grants of up to $7,500 to defray the costs of eligible projects, such as education programs, workforce development seminars, and field trips. The program also provides matching reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 for capital projects or equipment purchases.
“All youth should have access to the same opportunities for growth and career development,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “These programs are urban, rural, or suburban, and they all further our mission to grow the industry’s future leaders. It’s experiences in these programs that we hope will influence PA youth for a lifetime.”