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The North Carolina General Assembly has awarded the Polk County Agricultural Education Program a $15,000 grant to support its school farm operations.

The funding comes through House Bill 259, Section 8.9, which appropriated $2 million in grant funds to agricultural education programs in Career and Technical Education middle and high school public school units statewide.

The grant will be used to purchase a new zero turn lawn mower, with additional support from Ruff B Diversified. Students in the agricultural education program will use the equipment to maintain the school farm, enhancing their hands-on learning experience.

“We are super excited that our Agriculture Program received a grant,” said Josh Hill, Career Technical Education Coordinator for Polk County Schools. “Our students have a lot of daily responsibilities on our school farm, and this new piece of equipment will be a tremendous help.”

The state-level appropriation aims to provide materials and supplies necessary for agriculture programs across North Carolina, supporting technical education in public schools.