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Benjamin Ashpole, of NourishCap in North Webster, was awarded $6,000 for the project "Growing Futures with Hundreds of Untapped Native Fungi in Regenerative Agriculture and Agritourism Exploration by Rural High School Students."
"This project opens a ‘hidden harvest’ of hundreds of under‑explored native mushrooms into a gateway to regenerative agriculture. Rural students grow, measure and taste multiple species, explore business ideas, and co‑create a classroom‑tested video mini‑curriculum any agriculture teacher can adopt," said Ashpole.
This grant was awarded as part of NCR-SARE's 2026 Youth Educator Grant Program, a competitive grant program, according to a provided news release. Youth Educator Grant projects give youth educators in the North Central region opportunities to develop innovative ways to engage youth in learning about sustainable agriculture and share what they learn with fellow educators.
The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are based on how well the applicant presents the problem being addressed, the project's relevance to sustainable agriculture in the 12-state North Central region, and how well it aligns with NCR-SARE's goals, among other factors specific to each grant program.
NCR-SARE's Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. The AC includes a mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms, ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies and nonprofits.
Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life through a nationwide research and education grants program, the release states. The program, part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to bring sustainable innovations to agricultural systems.
The Call for Proposals for NCR-SARE's 2027 Youth Educator Program will open in early October.
