Konder obtains another grant for Glenwood City FFA
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one of the yard signs that will be at the annual “Farm in the Glen” event. —photo submitted
By Renee Bettendorf
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City FFA was one of ten Wisconsin FFA chapters that were recently awarded $500 grants from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation and the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom program.
“As an educator, I am always looking for grants to not only improve my classroom, but to also give the students in both the agriculture classroom and within the school district an opportunity to work with something new or advanced that wouldn’t be possible within the means of the general budget for the agricultural education program,” said Kirsten Konder, Glenwood City agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor.
The grants were awarded to provide financial support to FFA chapters that have plans for agriculture literacy activities as part of Wisconsin FFA’s Food for America program. Food For America is an educational program focusing on agricultural literacy in schools and communities.
Konder said the grant money was used to purchase yard signs that will be on display at the Glenwood City FFA’s annual Farm in the Glen event held on the first Wednesday every May at the high school.
“The signs can be used year after year and will benefit every student that attends our event,” she said.
At the Farm in the Glen event the Glenwood City FFA sets up a petting zoo, invites local businesses to set up booths and educates pre-k through 12 students on the importance of agriculture in their community and daily lives, according to Konder.
“For this event, I always wanted to get yard signs that had Wisconsin agriculture facts on them so that when students are walking around and enjoying the Farm in the Glen, they would also be learning additional agricultural information,” said Konder.
She wrote the grant for the signs and was awarded the grant money in November. The signs have already been printed and purchased. Each sign is unique and has a different ag fact that is Wisconsin specific.
Konder looks forward to finding more ways to fund the ag program and FFA chapter as interest in it increases.
“Over my three years in Glenwood City, I have brought in over $22,000 in grant funds and I am hoping that trend will continue as the FFA and agriculture program continues to grow,” she said.
