What is AgCorps

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. The AmeriCorps mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

AgCorps

AgCorps is a state AmeriCorps program administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture. AgCorps aims to improve the capacity of partner organizations to meet their mission, grow collaborations, provide effective programming, and create resilient, healthy, safe, and engaged communities in Montana. This program is also designed to serve rural and underfunded school districts in Montana that require more accessibility to Ag literacy materials.

Why it Matters

Although agriculture is the main industry in the state, many Montanans are never exposed to agricultural literacy programming in schools, and it can be difficult to understand the connection between agriculture and their lifestyle. As a small agency, it is challenging for MDA to provide the necessary resources, education, and engagement with communities about the value of agriculture on their own. Through AgCorps, the department and its partners will have the capacity to provide Montana schools and communities with the resources and training to learn about agriculture’s role in their lives and how to become better environmental stewards.

AgCorps expands local food opportunities, environmental stewardship education, and supports organizations in implementing ag literacy programs throughout the state. Our goal is to help spread an understanding of how the agriculture industry works, where food comes from, and who grows it. We are here to emphasize agriculture’s effect on the economy, environment, technology, lifestyle, and relationship to livestock.  AgCorps members help people see the importance of environmental stewardship and provide tools to help protect and sustain the natural resources we all rely on.