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Program FAQs




What is the America's Farmers Grow Rural EducationSM Program?
America's Farmers Grow Rural Education is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to help farmers positively impact their communities by supporting local school districts. Specifically, the program gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for a merit-based grant of either $10,000 or $25,000. The program is available in 1,245 counties in 39 states.

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Why is the Monsanto Fund sponsoring this program?
We believe in rural America and are committed to helping farmers strengthen their communities. We also know the importance of education, and that it's the cornerstone of any successful community. But most importantly, farmers have told us nothing is more vital than the next generation. That's why we introduced America's Farmers Grow Rural Education. This program gives us the opportunity to help improve education in rural America, thereby helping to grow the next generation.

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Is this a new program?
Yes, America's Farmers Grow Rural Education is a new program that will launch in 1,245 counties in 39 states, starting in January 2012. It's preceded by a successful pilot program in Illinois and Minnesota, where we gave more than $266,000 to local schools in 16 USDA Crop Reporting Districts (CRD). Winning school districts from the pilot are eligible to apply for another grant.

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How does a farmer nominate a public school district?
The nomination process is simple. Eligible farmers can fill out a short nomination form at GrowRuralEducation.com or by calling 1-877-267-3332. A printed copy of the entry form and rules are available on this website or by calling the number. Completed entries can be mailed to America's Farmers Grow Rural Education, 914 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63102. The nomination period runs Jan. 6, 2012, through April 15, 2012.

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Who can nominate a school district?
Farmers who live or farm in an eligible county can nominate a school district. Visit GrowRuralEducation.com for a listing of all 1,245 eligible counties. No purchase is necessary to nominate a school district, and the farmer does not have to be a Monsanto Company customer. Farmers must be 21 years or older and be actively engaged in farming with a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton; and/or 40 acres of open field vegetables, or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture.

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Which school districts can farmers nominate?
Eligible farmers can nominate rural public school districts that serve the communities in their USDA-appointed CRD. CRD maps are available at GrowRuralEducation.com. Farmers will be able to select their school district from a list of eligible districts.

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What happens after a farmer nominates the public school district?
Once a farmer nominates a school district, the Monsanto Fund notifies that school district administrator that the district has been nominated to compete for a grant through this program and encourages them to submit an application. Farmers also can contact the administrator to inform the school district that it has been nominated and encourage them to submit a grant application. Grants will be awarded based on merit, need and community support. The more farmers to nominate a school district, the more it demonstrates community support and strengthens the district's application. So farmers should encourage other farmers to nominate their school district, too.

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How does a school apply for a grant?
Once nominated by a local farmer, school district administrators are eligible to submit an online application for either a grant of $10,000 or a grant of $25,000. The application must be received by April 30, 2012. How many grants will be awarded? The Monsanto Fund will award 199 grants to rural school districts. One $10,000 grant will be awarded in eligible CRDs. An additional 22 grants of $25,000 will be awarded to one eligible school district in each state and designated region. Visit Program Rules for a list of states and regions.

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How will the school districts' applications be evaluated?
School districts that submit an application for a $10,000 grant will compete against other school districts that are located in its CRD. CRDs with fewer than five eligible schools will compete against each other. School districts that submit an application for a $25,000 grant will compete against schools that are located in its state or designated region. States with fewer than 75 eligible rural school districts will compete in a region. Visit Program Rules for a complete list of regions. Grants will be awarded based on merit, financial need and community support. The America's Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of 26 farmers from across the country, will select the 199 winning grant applications.

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When will the awards be made?
The Monsanto Fund will announce grant recipients at the end of August 2012. Overall, the program will donate more than $2.3 million to school districts in 39 states.

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Why did you choose only these counties?
Public school districts in every rural county deserve this type of support. These counties were selected based on crop parameters from the January 2011 USDA report. Farmers must reside in eligible counties where a minimum of 30,000 acres of corn and/or soybeans and/or cotton and/or vegetables are planted each year.

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Why can only farmers apply?
Monsanto Company's only business is agriculture, so the Monsanto Fund has a special interest in supporting farmers. Farmers told us they want us to not only give back to their local communities, but also support youth in rural communities. The program does just that and helps farmers improve public education in their communities.

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Can a school district win more than once?
America's Farmers Grow Rural Education held a successful pilot program in 2011 in Illinois and Minnesota. Eligible farmers are able to sign up again, and previous winning school districts are eligible to apply for another grant as well.

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Is this program a replacement for America's Farmers Grow Communities?
No. America's Farmer Grow Rural Education is a separate program from America's Farmers Grow Communities. America's Farmers Grow Rural Education is based on merit and focuses solely on supporting rural school districts. America's Farmers Grow Communities allows eligible farmers to register for a chance to win $2,500 to donate to their favorite community nonprofit organization. Visit GrowCommunities.com for additional information on America's Farmers Grow Communities.

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