Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) aims to enhance awareness among students about agriculture's pivotal role in the economy and society, encouraging informed citizens who back sound agricultural policies and local initiatives. Funded through specialty license plates, grants, and private contributions, MAITC has reached over 77,000 students, promoting agricultural understanding statewide and nationally since 2007.
The grant program focuses on the broad goal of promoting an understanding of the food and fiber system in both Maine and the nation. This is achieved by funding educational programs that incorporate agricultural concepts into Pre K-12th grade curricula. Specifically, the grants support projects like School Gardens and Greenhouses, Agricultural Awareness, and Agricultural Leadership, with the intention of enhancing students' knowledge of agriculture and its importance. The projects selected aim to integrate agricultural education within school curricula, with a maximum grant duration of one year.