Growing Places Indy Receives Grant from North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program

(May 12, 2021) – Growing Places Indy has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) for the project, Young Grow Getters.

“Growing Places Indy’s Young Grow Getters High School Program is a paid, six-week intensive hands-on agriculture program led by industry professionals in sustainable farming, culinary arts, food production, and technology offering real-world experience and career readiness skills,” said Victoria Beaty, Growing Places Indy Executive Director.

Young Grow Getters participants will gain vital aspects of urban agriculture through a robust and engaging summer curriculum. Students will get the opportunity to take field trips and work directly with farmers to gain hands-on experience and better understand the local food system.

The program aims to break the poverty cycle, expose young students to career opportunities in agriculture, build long-term economic self-reliance and food security, and develop a pipeline of trained farmers to create a sustainable future for urban farmers.

This grant was awarded as part of NCR-SARE’s Youth Educator Program, which supports educators who seek to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth.

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 diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofits.

Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.