Illinois SARE Grants

North Central Region SARE Grants

Sustainable Food, Fuel and Fiber


Contact Information:

Doug Gucker
3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd.
Decatur, IL 62521
(217)877-6042
dgucker@illinois.edu

Youth and Youth Educator Grant Program

About the Youth and Youth Educator Grant Programs

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) recognizes that youth programs are a way to introduce new and exciting farming and ranching options to youth, parents, and community members.

The program supports opportunities for youth and youth educators to research, demonstrate, and learn more about sustainable agriculture.
There are two options:

  1. YOUTH GRANTS. These are competitive grants for on-farm research, demonstration, or education projects by youth ages 8-18. Research and demonstration projects are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices. Education projects can involve teaching others about sustainable agriculture or attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop, or camp. $400 maximum.
  2. YOUTH EDUCATOR GRANTS. These are competitive grants for educators to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth. $2,500 maximum.

NCR-SARE can provide grant applications, reports from other projects, lists of funded projects, or other sustainable agriculture information.

Before writing a grant proposal, determine a clear project goal and explore previous research. It often helps to contact NCR-SARE, local agriculture groups, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and/or Extension educators to share ideas and invite participation.

To receive more information about the NCR-SARE Youth and Youth Educator Grant Programs’ proposal processes and timelines, contact the NCR-SARE office.

Youth Grant and Youth Educator Projects Recommended for Funding

Click here to view previous calls and projects recommended for funding.

Personal Contact

The Farmer and Rancher Youth and Youth Educator Program has a producer liaison, Joan Benjamin.

Joan Benjamin 
Farmer Rancher Grant Program Coordinator and Associate Regional Coordinator
NCR-SARE
Lincoln University
South Campus Bldg
Room 101
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573-681-5545
E-mail: BenjaminJ@lincolnu.edu