Area farmers answered the call, and with the help of America's Farmers Grow Rural Education, Lanesboro Public School District was awarded a $25,000 grant to enhance their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

“America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is a unique program because farmers play an important role throughout the process, from nominating schools to selecting the grant winners,” said Al Mitchell, President, Bayer Fund. “With the incredible support of local farmers, countless grant-winning schools have shared with us how Grow Rural Education funds have made their STEM programs more engaging and, in several instances, positively impacted test scores.”

Lanesboro Public School District plans to use the Grow Rural Education funds to build a new CreatorSpace classroom that will have collaborative workstations for students, 3D printing capabilities, maker carts, and interactive technology. From preschool to senior high, this classroom will be utilized as a centerpiece for students to develop their critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.

To qualify for the grant, farmers nominated a school or school district to complete for a merit-backed grant of either $10,000 or $25,000. School districts that were nominated then submitted a grant application describing their STEM-focused project.

Grow Rural Education’s Farmer Advisory Council, consisting of approximately 30 farmer leaders from across the country, reviewed the finalist applications and selected the winning school districts, including Lanesboro Public School District.

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