Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund accepting grant applications until October 1

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF) knows that the creativity and ideas of farmers, ranchers, teachers and students can often exceed the budget available for special projects. DGSHF is now accepting applications for grant funding made available to organizations, projects, people, and initiatives that are advancing soil health and regenerative agriculture.  The fund was established to promote educational practices related to soil health and regenerative agriculture, including but not limited to no-till farming, water conservation, tree conservation and planting cover crops. 

Established as an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, DGSHF raises funds to award grants twice per year that support education and programming for youth, current and future farmers, ranchers and others directly involved in agriculture in Nebraska and surrounding states.

A volunteer fund advisory committee that determines grant awardees prioritizes projects supporting current and future growers (adults or youth) in adopting practices that address water quality and soil health, such as cover crops, reduced tillage, complex crop rotations and nutrient management to reduce soil erosion, nutrient run-off and greenhouse gas emissions.

Past DGSHF grants have supported organizations such as No Till on the Plains, UNL Extension, Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District and the Northeast Community College’s agronomy field day.  Other grants have been awarded to youth centered projects and programs including City Sprouts which supports urban students with interests in agricultural careers, the Battle Creek FFA chapter and Central City High School for the benefit of a student’s scientific research program on the effect on land management technique on soil aggregation and the soil microbiome.

Ag teachers, agriscience innovators, educators, current and future farmers and ranchers are urged to apply for a DGSHF grant. Applications are being accepted now with a deadline of Oct. 1, 2024, for an award of up to $1,500. The application is a quick and simple one-page online form available at https://go.unl.edu/dggrant

 Questions may be directed to Randy Pryor, UNL Emeritus Extension Educator and Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund Advisory Chair at [email protected].

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund honors Dan Gillespie, a life-long farmer and long-time no-till farming practitioner and advocate, by raising funds and making grants to support soil health. The fund is dedicated to education and educational practices related to soil health and regenerative agriculture, including but not limited to no-till farming, water conservation, tree conservation and planting cover crops.

Grants from this Fund may support educational events and programming for youth, current farmers and ranchers and others involved in agriculture. The geographic focus of the Fund is Nebraska and surrounding states. A volunteer Fund Advisory Committee works actively to increase charitable giving and award grants to causes and projects that are addressing emerging needs and future opportunities to educate, inform and support healthy soil practices. Established in 2021, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund is an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation.