Marion MST Magnet will share in grant funds

Arkansas School Garden Grant Program recipients announced

By STEPHANIE LEWIS

Arkansas Department of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce that 52 schools across Arkansas have been approved for funding through the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program. Each of the schools will receive a $500 grant to be used for starting or expanding gardens on school grounds.

“School gardens provide a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about Arkansas agriculture and where their food comes from. The lessons learned through school gardens have a lasting impact on children, their families, and entire communities,” said Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.

Schools may use the funding to purchase soil, specialty crop seeds and plants, and gardening equipment. In addition to the funding, the Department’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Education program staff will provide technical assistance to schools upon request. Public and private K-12 schools, early care and education facilities, and alternative learning environments were eligible to apply for the funding.

“We look forward to working with the schools on their garden projects so many more Arkansas students can benet from garden-based education,” said Sarah Lane, Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program coordinator. Funding for the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program that was developed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The USDA denes specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.

Among local schools, the Marion Math Science Technology Magnet School was selected to receive a share of the funds. The school already operates a greenhouse on its campus, where students K-6 are actively involved in lessons centered on agricultural science.

The following schools were also selected for funding: ALLPS School of Innovation, Fayetteville Alma High School, Alma Alma Kiddie Kollege, Alma Anne Watson Elementary, Bigelow ARESC Preschool, Pine Bluff Arkansas Consolidated High School, Alexander Cabot Freshman Academy, Cabot Carolyn Lewis Elementary, Conway Cedarville High School, Cedarville Charleston Middle School, Charleston Columbia Christian School Early Childhood Education Center, Magnolia Crossroads West, Atkins First Baptist Christian School, Rogers Greenbrier Eastside Elementary, Greenbrier Greenwood Preschool Center, Greenwood Hazen High School, Hazen Health Wellness and Environmental Studies Elementary, Jonesboro Helen Tyson Middle School, Springdale Hillcrest Schools, Strawberry Hope Academy of Public Service, Hope Hot Springs Child Care Center, Hot Springs Hugh Goodwin Elementary, El Dorado Indian Hills Elementary, North Little Rock Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary, Jacksonville James R. Tate Elementary, Van Buren John Tyson Elementary, Springdale Klassic Kidz, Inc., Pine Bluff Lake Nixon Outdoor Preschool, Little Rock Mann Magnet, Little Rock McNair Middle, Fayetteville Milestones Services, Inc., Conway Miss Poly’s Learning Center, Wynne Monticello Middle School, Monticello Nettleton Junior High, Jonesboro Nettleton STEAM, Jonesboro Norphlet Middle School, Norphlet North Little Rock Middle School, North Little Rock Omaha Elementary, Omaha Ozark Junior High, Ozark Pea Ridge High School, Pea Ridge Peek A Boo, Elkins Pine Bluff High School, Pine Bluff Pulaski County Juvenile Detention Center, Little Rock Pulaski Heights Elementary, Little Rock Retta Brown ABC, El Dorado Robert L. Davis Elementary, Alexander Valley View High School, Jonesboro Van Buren Kiddie Kollege, Van Buren Vandergriff Elementary, Fayetteville White Hall High School, White Hall Wynne Junior High School, Wynne The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, ber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture. arkansas.gov.

The Marion MST Magnet will be receiving funds for its agricultural sciences department. The school’s greenhouse is already proving popular with students and is used to host special events like Grandparents Day at the school.

Photo courtesy of MSD