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Compeer Financial announced 21 middle and high schools across Minnesota will receive up to $4,000 each to support agricultural education programs and equipment through its Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant Program. In total, Compeer is awarding 65 schools in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin a total of $239,815.
Middle and high school agriculture departments within Compeer’s 144-county territory are eligible to apply for the grant program, provided they did not receive a grant during the prior two years. The 2026 application will open in April 2026.
The 21 Minnesota school programs earning an Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant in 2025 include:
- Adrian High School: Metal cutting bandsaw, drill bit sharpener, impact wrench, hammer drill / impact driver kit, bench vise, levels and level sets, welding gloves, an abrasive belt tool versatility kit.
- Albert Lea Area Schools: Models for animal science.
- Becker High School: A hydroponics system and plants, sensors.
- Cannon Falls High School: Infrastructure and equipment for viticulture project.
- Central High School: Engines hand tools, soldering tool kits, battery pack, sanders, scroll saws, jig saw, router, scale miter gauge for table saw, drill bits, impact sockets.
- Dover-Eyota High School: Supplies and equipment for the Food Chemistry class.
- Glencoe-Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School: Laser drill presses, drill bits.
- Glenville-Emmons Senior High School: Welding helmets, drills, batteries.
- Grand Meadow Public Schools: Microscopes, sourdough starter kits, controlled environment equipment, wireless adapter and document camera, pH meter, fermentation jars.
- Jackson County Central Schools: Belt and disc sander combo machine, drill press.
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton: Equipment for taxidermy class.
- Lanesboro Public Schools: Equipment for Food Chemistry.
- Mankato East High School: A multiprocess welder.
- Martin Luther High School: Equipment for Intro to Animal Science, Small Animals, and Food Animal Science.
- Mountain Lake High School / ISD 173: Hand power tools, Food Science equipment, greenhouse materials.
- Ogilvie High School / ISD #333: Swine breeder artificial insemination simulator, ear tagger and tags, swine ear notchers.
- Owatonna High School / ISD 761: Animal Health and Veterinary Science kit, vital dog model.
- ROCORI High School: A meat scale, label maker, drones.
- Southern Minnesota Education Consortium: An aquaponics system.
- Tri-City United High School #2905: Hides, skulls.
- Willow River Area High School: Greenhouse growing supplies, irrigation equipment, environmental control, tools, and equipment.
“We know when young people experience agriculture through hands-on activities, it sparks a passion for the industry,” said Karen Schieler, manager of corporate giving at Compeer Financial. “Compeer is committed to helping ag education programs have access to classroom equipment and technology so students can have real-world experiences. These grants provide support to high school programs that are essential to creating the next generation of agriculture advocates.”
The Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant Program is part of Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program.
Compeer Financial news release
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