Madison County’s bid for this grant started in early 2014 when farmers across the country nominated their local public school districts for the grants. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON COUNTY — The Madison County Schools district is a finalist for the “America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education” grant.

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, provides these grants.

The grant, which can reach $25,000, would help Madison County Schools enhance math and science programs.

Madison County’s bid for this grant started in early 2014 when farmers across the country nominated their local public school districts for the grants. Once nominated, these districts were eligible to submit completed grant applications in April.

Last spring, a panel of math and science educators from ineligible counties reviewed all grant submissions. The panel selected the top contenders for consideration by the advisory council for America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education.

The advisory council will select the winning school districts. The council members are leading American farmers with a vested interest in both agriculture and education.

Last year, Grow Rural Education invested $35,000 in public school districts across Alabama to improve math and science curriculum. Since 2012, Alabama school districts have received $55,000 from the program.

In past years, grant recipients have funded projects in technology and upgrades to scientific lab equipment, greenhouses and outdoor classroom learning environments and teacher and curriculum development.

The winning grant recipients will be announced in early August.

For a complete list of the 2014 America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education finalists and past winners, visit AmericasFarmers.com.

The Monsanto Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. For more information, visit monsantofund.org.

For more information about the scholarships, visit GrowRuralEducation.com.