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Haley Madson, a first-grade teacher at St. Anne’s School in Le Sueur, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Outstanding Teacher Award. This annual award recognizes teachers for their creative efforts to integrate agriculture into their classrooms to increase agricultural literacy.

Madson is an advocate for agricultural education at St. Anne’s and uses her lessons to inspire students to think about how deeply agriculture impacts their lives from a young age.

“I want my students to realize that when learning about agriculture, they will be using reading, math, social studies, and science skills,” she says. “There is a connection between agriculture and animals, the economy, the environment, technology, and overall way of life. It is important to give students opportunities to explore those connections starting in elementary school.”

Madson will receive a $500 stipend and have up to $1,500 of her related expenses paid to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom (NAITC) Conference this June in Orlando, Florida.

All Minnesota licensed K-12 educators who creatively integrate agricultural concepts into non-agricultural education classroom settings are eligible for the Outstanding Teacher Award. Applications are reviewed by a committee of MAITC Foundation board members, who select the recipient each winter.

MAITC is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. Visit the MAITC website for more information and free educational resources.

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Media Contact 
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2023 Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. The program provides funding for projects that buy local food primarily from socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers and distribute that food to underserved communities. The MDA anticipates that applications will propose a wide range of models for local food procurement and distribution, knowing that there is no one-size-fits-all model that can effectively serve the whole state. 

Individuals (including farmers), non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, tribal nations, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, economic development organizations, and educational institutions are eligible to apply. Applicants are required to partner with at least one other individual or organization as part of their application to support collaboration within communities. 

Applications for the 2023 grants will be accepted through May 30, 2023. Applicants may request between $10,000 and $100,000 and indicate their interest in additional funding if available. The MDA anticipates awarding roughly $2.125 million in total for this round. A second, competitive application process is anticipated to be issued in the fall of 2023. 

Interested parties can attend one of two virtual information sessions to learn more about the LFPA Program. The sessions will be held at the following times: 

• April 18, 2023, from 5 – 6 p.m. Register for this event.
• April 19, 2023, from 12 – 1 p.m. Register for this event. 

Additional information about the grant program, including complete eligibility requirements, is available on the MDA website. Applications are preferred to be submitted online. Questions and requests for paper applications can be directed to MN LFPA Program staff at LFPAgrant.MDA@state.mn.us, 651-201-6290, or by mail:

MN Local Food Purchase Assistance Program
Commissioner’s Office
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the MDA $3.82 million in LFPA funding in September 2022. The LFPA Program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us