Agricultural educators, technical service providers, and advocates play a crucial role in building awareness of and supporting farmers integrating regenerative grazing practices. To that end, the Pasture Project, in partnership with the Regenerative Ag Idea Network (REGAIN) is excited to launch the second round of Regenerative Grazing Mini-Grants. This program is designed to support educators and advocates in Illinois and Indiana in furthering their own professional development and organizational capacity around regenerative grazing instruction and builds off other grazing work in both states. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 7th, 2022.
Funds are available for professional development scholarships (up to $500) and organizational grants (up to $1,000) for attending or hosting workshops, developing educational materials, and more! Selected applicants will be asked to submit a brief evaluative report (<1 page) within two weeks of completing the activity for which funds were requested. Funds must be spent by March 1, 2022.
Questions? Let us know at [email protected]. Preview the application here, but please submit via the linked online form above.
Organizational Mini-Grants
Organizational Mini-Grants provide funding of up to $1,000 to support organizations in Illinois and Indiana creating programming or resources to support regenerative grazing education. Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- Grazing resource or tool development (case studies, tutorial videos, etc.)
- Grazing events (field day, training, webinar, etc.)
- Staff training
Application Requirements
- Applicants must be members of the Regenerative Ag Idea Network (REGAIN) – make an account here if you haven’t already—it’s that simple! And free!
- Applicants must provide a simple budget and an overview of the activities for which you are seeking funding
- If you are seeking funding to procure professional services, you are required to upload documentation of the service provider’s rate
Professional Development Scholarships
Professional Development Scholarships provide funding of up to $500 to support individuals in Illinois and Indiana to further their knowledge and training on regenerative grazing. Scholarships will range from $300 – $500 and support the costs of registration, travel, lodging and per diem associated with conference, training, workshop and learning journey attendance. Scholarships can also be used to support travel and lodging for free events. Funds are also available to support virtual educational opportunities like webinars or e-learning series. Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- Grazing or regenerative ag conferences
- Grazing field days
- Grazing technical service provider trainings
- Online trainings or e-learning series
Application Requirements
- Applicants must be members of the Regenerative Ag Idea Network (REGAIN) – make an account here if you haven’t already—it’s that simple! And free!
- Applicants will be asked to provide a link to the program they wish to attend
- Applicants must provide a simple budget outlining the costs associated with participation at an event.
- Recipients are only eligible to receive one scholarship
Grazing Trainings and more!
Applicants may want to consider the follow conferences and events:
- GrassWorks Grazing Conference – January 20-22, 2022 – Wisconsin Dells, WI
- American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference – January 9-12, 2022 – Wichita, KS
- Northern Indiana Grazing Conference – February 4-5, 2022 – Shipshewana, IN
- MOSES Organic Farming Conference – February 24-26, 2022 – La Crosse, WI
There are also numerous online grazing trainings and courses available:
- Homestead Pastured Poultry – Grassfed Life – Online
- Homestead Pigs – Grassfed Life – Online
- Regen Ag 101 – Understanding Ag – Online
If you have a suggested event or opportunity, let us know and we’ll add it!
**Scholarships cannot be used for vocational training, formal degree programs, or attending Wallace Center events or conferences, and recipients are only eligible to receive one scholarship per calendar year.
Who Should Apply?
Consider applying for this program if you have any of the following roles:
- University Extension educators and other staff
- County, state and federal government agriculture and conservation staff
- Nonprofit agricultural educators and technical assistance providers
- Farmer networks
- Non-profit conservation organization staff
Applicants who are based in Illinois and Indiana or serve producers and other agricultural stakeholders in those states will be prioritized, but applicants from other states in the Upper Midwest are also invited to apply.
This program will prioritize funding for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)-led organizations and organizations that work in historically underserved communities.
Implementation Schedule
Applications are due by January 7th, 2022. Notifications to selected applications will be made within two weeks of the application closing period.
Selected applicants will be required to submit a brief evaluative report (<1 page) within two weeks of completing the activity for which funds were requested. The Regenerative Ag Idea Network will provide a report template. Funds must be spent by March 1, 2021.
