Go ahead, try to connect the work of scientists, farmers and high school students in one story. Each is a part of the other. Why is it important to report national grants along with regional farm news plus students going on to compete in Kentucky contrasted with field work by research scientists? Because we believe that humans with minds that are encouraged grow and flourish grow to become legislation-makers, community action-takers, farmers, ranchers, farm market vendors and farm market-goers, along with leaders and parents who understand the connection between soil, food, communication and business – so important for a vibrant United States of America and a sustainable planet. Not to mention scientists, photographers, and writers who create and amplify the work of people actually out there doing great works in the world.

Of interest to those who believe in local and regional food systems and the small farms that feed into both, USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently highlighted the importance of rural entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy and announced USDA investments of $25 million to help 247 businesses nationwide expand their operations and create new products to market.

The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development's Value-Added Producer Grant program. The program helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products.

“The investments will help support local and regional food systems,” Vilsack said. Value-Added Producer Grants can help business develop markets for niche and specialty products.

Since 2009, USDA has awarded 863 such grants totaling $108 million. The 2014 Farm Bill increases mandatory funding for the program from $15 million to $63 million over five years (while also re-authorizing an additional $40 million in discretionary funding). Grants can be used for a wide range of purposes, including to further the development of the growing bioeconomy, and finance the distribution of local and regional products.

Miles Smith Farm LLC's grant of $127,732 will help market and produce burgers made from 55 percent grass-fed beef and 45 percent organically-raised pork. By mixing ground pork with extra-lean, grass-fed ground beef, the New Hampshire farm can produce a burger with “the ideal fat and flavor levels that grass-fed ground beef does not have alone” according to farm's owner, who calls the mix “the burger that squeals with flavor.”

In neighboring Vermont, North Hollow Farm LLC, in Rochester, received a $161,204 grant to expand processing and marketing of grass-fed beef and natural meats. FarmieMarket Online LLC in Rensselaerville, N.Y., got a $24,490 grant to expand its online presence for 16 small farmers who produce a broad range of fresh foods that are aggregated and sold online to expand their customer base.

Value-Added Producer Grants are an element of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, which coordinates USDA's work to support local and regional food systems. Previous grants support local and regional projects mapped on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food compass. A full list of recipients (none listed in Connecticut) is available here as a PDF. Funding for each project is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

In related news (future ag-entrepreneurs), finalists have been named for the upcoming National Agriscience Fair competition to be held in Ocotober at the National FFA Organization in Louisville, Kentucky.

The national competition is for FFA members focused on the science and technology of agriculture. They compete in one of six categories: animal systems; environmental services/natural resource systems; food products and processing systems; plant systems; power, structural and technical systems; social systems.

Finalists from Connecticut are Kara Greatsinger, Alexander Fernandez, Leianna Dolce, Kelli Knapp, Middletown High School Mattabeset FFA. Chelsea Kegler of E. O. Smith High School at Storrs Regional. Kyle Rosenfeld, Brian Tormey, Kylie Fawcett, Maria Miller, Bridgeport Aquaculture School of Connecticut. Donald Pringle, Kurt Holyst, Kathryn Falcetti, Valerie Perzanowski, Southington High School FFA. Michaela Cisowski, Northwestern Regional FFA. Alexandria Abbagnaro and Leila Strebel, The Sound School FFA.

Furthermore, other students were named National FFA Proficiency Award medalists for experiential learning projects. They include Albert Hawkes, Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance, gold; Ashley Best, Goat Production, silver; Stephanie Vopelak, Home & Community Development, silver; Lucas Myers, Environmental Science, bronze; from Middletown High School Mattabeset FFA. Samantha Benham, Northwestern Regional FFA, Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems Division 2, bronze. Barbara Legeyt, Northwestern Region 7 High School, Plant Systems, Division 1, bronze. Danielle Peterson, Bridgeport Aquaculture School, Plant Systems Division 2, bronze. For all notables, see this link to the national FFA.

And now, an excerpt from a lively field report by Charlotte Murtishaw, student conservation association intern, serving as a communications specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region's Hurricane Sandy recovery program.

“Everyday you’ll do something new. Every day there’ll be something exciting that happens, even small things, and it’s never boring. You do feel satisfied with your job, even if you’re tired and muddy and really hungry at the end of the day, you still had a great time out in the marsh and got to interact with animals.”

For the rest of her story about what scientists were doing in the marsh and why it matters, click on the image above.