Two Palouse Ag Teachers Receive National Grant Money To Promote Ag In The Classroom

Congratulations to Nathan and Jessica Moore.  Not only are they both Ag teachers and FFA advisors in Washington, he with Colton, while she works in Oakesdale, they both were awarded national money to improve their efforts to teach Ag in the Classroom, through the Grow Rural Education Program by Bayer.

“We were excited when we found out that that we were finalists.  And then to find out we actually got the grants, it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for our communities, and so, I didn’t want to get my hopes up being a finalist because that was a very long list but finding out that we got them it was just kind of incredible.”

Each Ag program will receive $25,000 because to enhance STEM education.  Nathan said improving STEM education is vital for young people interested in a career in production Ag.  He said in 2019, more and more young people peruse a higher education, so they can start a career in industry, pushing off plans to return to the family farm.

“When I was going to school, a lot of my classmates, I grew up in Colfax, a lot of my classmates when directly from High School to a college degree right back to the farm, and that trend is changing, and so we need to give the kids tools that they can go get a good job and be productive before they go back to the farm.  And some of them might never go back to the farm, but a lot of our kids are staying in an agricultural field which I think is a win.”

Both the Oakesdale and Colton program received this $25,000 grant because they were nominated by someone in their respective community, so if you’d like to see your local Ag education program benefit from the Grow Rural Education Program, nominate your school today.

Other Northwest district that received money through the Program include Vale in Oregon, and Hagerman and Jerome in Idaho.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com