News

Non-profit groups to benefit from program

Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas farmers may get a chance to help a non-profit organization in their community. The award is available through Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities Project, a new pilot program being offered throughout Iowa and in parts of Missouri and Arkansas.

Through the program, farmers can direct a $2,500 award to a non-profit group important to them, such as an ag youth organization, school or other civic group. It’s up to the winning farmers where the money goes, but Monsanto Community Outreach Manager Gayla Daugherty thinks a number of ag youth organizations may benefit.

“They may have children who are in 4-H chapters or FFA chapters, but also they may be volunteer firefighters or affiliated with their local community hospitals or even their local food pantry,” Daugherty told Brownfield during an interview. “I think farmers are involved in a lot of different activities and organizations to help their communities, so I think we could see a broad range.”

Monsanto Community Outreach Manager Gayla Daugherty

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The program is open to all qualifying farmers who sign up by February 28. In Iowa, a winner will be drawn from each of the state’s 99 counties. About two-thirds of Missouri counties are eligible and about a third of Arkansas counties are listed (below).

Monsanto will announce winning farmers and recipient organizations in March.

Eligible Missouri Counties: Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Bates, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Knox, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Scotland, Scott, Shelby, St. Charles, Stoddard, and Vernon.

Eligible Arkansas Counties: Ashley, Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Saint Francis, and Woodruff.