Calling all middle schools! Enter the second annual Let It Grow Contest from now until March 14, 2017. This contest invites teachers and community adults to vote daily for a school of their choice to win a grand prize of a $5,000 agricultural grant and an introduction to a local agronomist! Five runners-up will win a $1,000 agricultural grant and the chance to receive a celebratory winner event!

Entering the contest is easy. Simply answer the questions presented on the contest page to enter. Once you have answered the questions, you will be taken to the voting page where you can search for your school by zip code or city and state. You can also gain bonus votes by referring others to the contest using a specific referral link. Winners will be announced during the month of April. For more details on the contest, click here.

In addition to entering the Let It Grow Contest, From the Ground Up: The Science of Soil has interactive lesson plans that help educators turn their classrooms into virtual labs that enhance digital literacy by bringing science to life. All lessons are downloadable, and there is even a Teacher Toolkit that provides information about the curriculum and allows teachers to share concepts and strategies that have been helpful while using the program.