The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program is pleased to announce the Youth Educator Grant projects recommended for 2026 funding. These competitive grants awarded more than $101,000 to 18 projects, giving youth educators in the North Central region opportunities to develop innovative ways to engage youth in learning about sustainable agriculture and share what they learn with fellow educators.
Those selected to receive funding included (in alphabetical order by state):
- Sarah Brady with the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn-Remsen-Union Community School District in Marcus, IA was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Sustainable Horizons: Envisioning Agriculture through VR-Enhanced Soil Health Education.”
- Maya Hayslett with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Ames, IA was awarded $5,999 for the project, “Fostering Pesticide Responsibility in Communities Through Youth Engagement.”
- Shari Sell-Bakker with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County in Waterloo, IA was awarded $3,349 for the project, “Growing agricultural education and creating passion for future generations of growers.”
- Benjamin Ashpole with NourishCap in North Webster, IN was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Growing Futures with Hundreds of Untapped Native Fungi in Regenerative Agriculture and Agritourism Exploration by Rural High-School Students.”
- Leslie Etienne with Indiana University-Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN was awarded $6,000 for the project, “The Agroecology Futurists Club Cohort 2.”
- Amy Budke with Chase County USD 284 in Cottonwood Falls, KS was awarded $2,897 for the project, “Alternative Grass Management with Goats.”
- Terry Kinzie with the Asbury Community Development Corporation in Flint, MI was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Youth Wholesale Market Experience with Herbs and Spice Blends.”
- Jackqueline Lindsey with Creations Management and Farms in Detroit, MI was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Youth-Led Food Systems Through Regenerative Agriculture: Growing, Cooking, and Leading for Community Health and Career Awareness.”
- Derrienne Reese with Asibara Forest in Detroit, MI was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Asibara Forest: A Food Forest Initiative.”
- Sherita Williams with the Manheim Paseo Learning Garden in Kansas City, MO was awarded $5,900 for the project, “Find Your Way in Nature Series: A Regenerative Waystation Model for Youth Sustainable Agriculture.”
- Talia McGill with No More Empty Pots in Omaha, NE was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Youth STEM and Horticulture Internship.”
- Molly Gassaway with Community Food Initiatives in Athens, OH was awarded $5,991 for the project, “Growing Tomorrow’s Stewards in Appalachia: Summer Sprouts Advanced Camp.”
- Ursula McVey with Food Strong in Cleveland, OH was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Food Strong Mushroom Cultivation Project.”
- Markisha Parker with Parker Family Urban Farms in Warren, OH was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Youth-Led Soil Health and Local Food Systems Education Using Regenerative Agriculture Practices.”
- Aubry Shaw with Tara Agriculture in Thornville, OH was awarded $6,000 for the project, “The Alpaca Industry Needs You! Farmers & Youth Learning How to Shear and Process Alpaca Fiber.”
- Jodi Spencer with the Dorothy England Legacy Farm in Columbus, OH was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Closing the Loop: Youth Education in Food Preservation, Composting, and Beneficial Critters.”
- Rebecca Supinger with The Ohio State University Extension in Dayton, OH was awarded $5,800 for the project, “From Farm to Fork: Bridging the Gap between Farms and Montgomery County Schools.”
- Cheryl Wheeler with Efinity Harvest in Trotwood, OH was awarded $6,000 for the project, “Farm-to-Market Future Leaders: Training Youth in Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems.”
Read descriptions of these projects online at https://projects.sare.org/.
The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are based on how well the applicant presents the problem being addressed, the project's relevance to sustainable agriculture in the 12-state North Central region, and how well it aligns with NCR-SARE's goals, among other factors specific to each grant program.
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. The AC includes a mix of regional agricultural stakeholders. Council members hail from regional farms, ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofits.
Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that improve economic viability, stewardship, and quality of life through a nationwide research and education grants program. As part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the program funds projects and conducts outreach to bring sustainable innovations to agricultural systems.
Some NCR-SARE grant timelines have changed for the upcoming funding cycle.
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