2025 - Ag Awareness Breakfast

John Maitland Agricultural Awareness Fund

Now in its 23rd year, the John Maitland Agriculture Awareness Fund celebrates teachers and students of our communities that are working to incorporate agriculture into their lesson plans, classrooms, and youth learning experiences. 

As McLean County's largest industry, agriculture plays an imperative role in the success of our communities and every household in the United States benefits from the hard work of farmers and agriculture professionals. 

However, agriculture awareness is one of the top issues facing McLean County. A growing number of McLean County students assume that food comes from a store - not a farm. The agriculture population lacks impact in the voting booth, so the need to educate our youth about agriculture, especially as citizens take safe, cheap food policies for granted, is more important than ever. 

The funds are invested through the local McLean County Extension Foundation with the University of Illinois Foundation, with professional fund managers striving for maximum return on investment. This grant is made possible by generous contributions from the Maitland family. The funds collected from the “pass the hat” prior to and at the breakfast will be matched by the Maitlands and used to fund next year’s winners of the John Maitland Agriculture Awareness Grant. Through these generous donations, support is given to teachers working hard to incorporate agriculture in their classrooms. 

For our virtual “pass the hat” donors can opt to give online through the McLean County Extension Service Foundation or collections will be taken on-site at the event.
Donate online here