The purpose of the mini-grant program is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies of agricultural educators and service providers in sustainable agriculture practices and systems. Agricultural professionals include extension educators, Natural Resource Conservation Service staff, state, federal and tribal agency personnel and educators in the profit and not-for-profit sectors serving the food and fiber system.

Mini-grant activities are meant to build educator expertise, develop new curriculum or programming, implement innovative educational approaches and create an opportunity for learning and skill development of the agricultural professional, ultimately leading to enhancing the sustainability (economic, environmental and social) of Minnesota agriculture and communities.  Applicants are required to explain how any mini grant activities will contribute to their professional development and/or the professional development of other educators.  Applicants are encouraged to work with stakeholders, including farmers and educators from the target audience, to develop their program.

Competitive grants of up to $2,000.00 are available. A total of $12,000 is available for 2008.   Applications will be accepted as long as funding is available, with review of the first batch of applications to begin April 30, 2008.  Applications will be reviewed by the Minnesota NCR-SARE Professional Development Advisory Committee and applicants notified of their funding recommendations within four weeks. Funds can be spent between May 31, 2008 and April 30, 2009.

Application Evaluation

Funding recommendations will be based upon well defined educational outcomes, effective plan of action, potential benefit or outcome of the project, appropriateness of the budget, cooperation among producer groups, organizations, or agencies in planning and delivering the project, potential contribution to the profitability and/or stewardship of Minnesota producers. The Minnesota NCR-SARE Advisory Committee noted a need for professional development in and especially encourages proposals in the following areas, though awarded mini-grants will not be limited to these areas: conservation tillage, alternative system livestock management, small farm issues, season extension, sourcing local food for events and meetings.

Reporting

A brief report of the project, outlining the accomplishments towards the intended outcomes is required. The report must include: (1) What, specifically, was learned from this mini-grant (2) Number of participants and how they plan to use the information. The report is due within 30 days of completion of the educational project.

Application Submission

The travel scholarship program provides funds for Minnesota educators to get information they can use to develop programs that help farm families improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of their farming operations. Travel scholarships are awarded on a first come-first served basis. They are limited to $500, and one per educator per calendar year. Travel scholarships may be used to support participation in conferences, tours, and other programs as well as visits to study issues or programs with researchers, Extension agents, educational institutions, foundations, or farm families. Find a link to an online application form at the bottom of this page.

Application Forms

When you have completed the appropriate form (bottom of the page), hit the submit button.  Unless you have Adobe Acrobat professional 7.0 or a later version, you cannot save the filled out form, so print it off before submitting. You will be given several choices to submit electronically.  The most reliable way to send the information is to follow the prompts that instruct you to save the .xml file to your desktop, and attach it to an email to schre002@umn.edu. It will send a datafile that I can import into the form.

You can also fax the printed form to Beth Nelson's attention at 612-625-1268, or scan it and email it to me, or put it in the mail, 411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108.

I will notify you when an application is received, so please contact me if you don't hear from me within a few days of mailing or faxing your completed application.

----Beth Nelson, Minnesota NCR-SARE, schre002@umn.edu, 612-625-8217