Southern Door Elementary School students will be able to do some extensive research that could help local farmers. The elementary school's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEAM team received a $10,000 grant from the America's Farmers Grow Rural Education program. That will allow the district to purchase equipment, including microscopes designed for field work. Students will conduct research on the school pond, the school garden and maple syrup tapping area. Jessica Meacham, who heads the elementary STEAM program, says students' studies will benefit local agriculture.
Such grants have also helped rural schools, such as Southern Door, obtain robotics and weather forecasting equipment to aid local agriculture research by students.