WVU AgTech Mini-Grant Program

WVU Extension and WVU Davis College are excited to offer the WVU AgTech Mini-Grants to West Virginia 4-H and FFA clubs, groups and individuals. Provided by a generous donation from Karen Powell, four $2,000 mini-grants will be awarded to support technology related to agriculture in either the farm or classroom setting. Hear from prior grant recipients and their stories in the video below!

Technology has always driven innovation in agriculture to help increase productivity, yields, safety, operations and management. With this mini-grant program, your project should aim to apply technology to a need on your farm or in your classroom that will improve your operations, help spur innovation, increase productivity, or even lead to a new opportunity for potential business.

This grant will allow you to be creative and identify a modernization, upgrade, new technology or innovation that can make your farm or classroom more successful. Grant applications are now being accepted, and awards will be made according to the following guidelines.

Grant Specifics

Project proposals should address a demonstrated technological need related to agriculture. This need can be in a classroom/educational setting or in a farm/field setting. For the purposes of this grant, “technology” could include (but is not limited to) projects related to data loggers, laptops, weather stations, drones, precision agriculture, data management, field mapping, etc.

The grant will not be awarded for “equipment” such as tires, machinery, and farm supplies. Awardees will be expected to submit on-time mid-year and final project reports. Specific guidelines for these reports will be provided to awardees.

Timeline

• December 13, 2023: Application Deadline
• December 15, 2023: Award Recipients Notified
• December 20, 2023 - January 10, 2024: Mini-Grants Disbursed
• March 10, 2024: Mid-Project Reports Due
• May 12, 2024: Final Reports Due
• Final Banquet and Project Presentations with Campus Visit (TBD)

Applicant Criteria

Teams/clubs may apply for this grant, but a "lead" applicant, meeting the criteria, must be listed.

1. Adult guidance is encouraged, but this grant should be written by a youth member or team.
2. Applicant must be an active 4-H or FFA club member.
3. Applicant must be at least 14 years old as of 1/1/2023. Applicant must be no more than 21 years old as of 1/1/2023.
4. Application must have signed approval of the county Extension agent.

How To Apply

Applications are submitted online. You will NOT be able to save a partially-complete online application, therefore we suggest you prepare all the necessary responses prior to beginning your online application by viewing the PDF of the application and preparing your responses in a separate document. You will then be able to copy and paste your responses into the online application.

Additional materials to be uploaded:

1. REQUIRED: Please provide a signed letter of support from your VOAg teacher, 4-H leader, faculty member, etc.
2. REQUIRED: If your letter of support is not from your County 4-H Professional, the letter must also be signed by your County 4-H Professional (Extension Agent) stating that they approve your proposal. By signing, they agree to oversee the disbursement of funds to the recipient and assist as needed with the collection of project reports from the recipient.
3. OPTIONAL: You may provide images/multimedia files to supplement your application but are not required to do so.

Note that your required letter of support, Extension Agent signature, and optional supplemental materials must be uploaded in order for your online application to be submitted and complete, so be sure you also have these items ready before you begin the online application.

When you have the answers for your application prepared, your signed letter of support, and Agent’s signature, tap the button below to apply!

WVU AgTech Mini-Grant Application

Application Deadline: December 13, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.