Growing Tomorrow Grant
The Growing Tomorrow Grant was created to help inspire, encourage, and nurture young agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs to find creative and transformative ways to address challenges facing the agricultural sector today, and to generate wider and deeper public understanding of farming and the ways that agriculture impacts our nation and our communities.
This grant-making program is the brainchild of Mike Boyert, an Ohio Farm Bureau northeast regional trustee, and his wife Patti. Mike and Patti, residents of Medina County, remember well the struggles they encountered when they started their farming careers, and the difficulties they faced in starting, growing, and sustaining their farming business. The Growing Tomorrow Grant program is Mike and Patti’s way of ensuring that creative young farmers can access opportunities they did not have, and enabling these young professionals to use their skills to alleviate the difficulties facing agriculture today, including a lack of public education regarding the importance of farms within the US food system and the significant economic hardships facing rural communities and farm workers.
The Growing Tomorrow Grant program will provide grants to new or early-stage agricultural businesses. Grants will focus on supporting, among other activities:
- The creation of long-term sustainable employment opportunities within Ohio farming communities.
- Educational opportunities to enable better public understanding of agriculture, help farmers learn from each other, and teach new and different agricultural methodologies.
- Businesses that use or demonstrate the viability of agricultural techniques that center on environmental stewardship.
- Farmers actively working to support and sustain the communities in which they live.
By funding creative and transformative agricultural solutions, the Growing Tomorrow Grant aims to help young farmers, strengthen public understanding of agriculture, and ensure the sustainability and vitality of agricultural communities for generations to come.
Who is eligible?
Young professionals and entrepreneurs who are looking to secure startup funds for a new business or seeking funds to enhance the impact of an existing business are encouraged to apply! Grant recipients should have a solid business plan and sustainable solution to one or more of the four challenges listed above. Click here to review the detailed requirements to apply for this grant.
What are the size of the grants awarded?
The Growing Tomorrow Grant program intends to award up to $50,000 between three top finalists in late 2024.
What is the timeline to apply and receive the grant?
- May 1, 2024
- July 31, 2024
- Application closes at 5 p.m.
- September 2024
- Top three finalists are notified and present their business plan to a panel of judges (Top three finalists must participate in an in-person presentation of their business plan at the Ohio Farm Bureau state office. Date to be determined.)
- December 2024
- Grant recipients are announced at Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Breakfast
- January 2025
- Grant recipients receive their grant money and begin their work
For questions regarding the Growing Tomorrow Grant, please contact the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation at [email protected].
Interested in learning more?
Mike & Patti Boyert hosted a virtual question and answer session May 8.
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By funding creative and transformative agricultural solutions, the Growing Tomorrow Grant aims to help young farmers, strengthen public understanding of agriculture, and ensure the sustainability and vitality of agricultural communities.