March 21, 2013
Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler announced that three groups from northeastern Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2013 Building Our American Communities grant program today. Eleven local chapters of the National FFA Organization and nine Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been granted funding for their community service projects this year.
“The Building Our American Communities program is a great opportunity for Missouri’s 4-H and FFA members to be involved in agriculture and make a difference in their communities,” said Director Hagler. “Youth are the future of Missouri’s agriculture industry and it is outstanding to see their commitment to these projects.”
The Paris FFA Chapter, the Southeast Linn 4-H Club and the Olney Blue Skies 4-H Club plan to upgrade local community buildings through their service projects.
In Monroe County, the Paris FFA Chapter will put their funding towards purchasing materials for the members to update the landscaping at the Paris Public Library. Improving the outside look of the library will contribute to the overall atmosphere of the community.
The Southeast Linn 4-H Club and the Brookfield FFA Chapter of Linn County will put their funds toward finishing the barn at the Linn County Fairgrounds. Currently the fairgrounds are unable to accommodate all species of livestock at one time, but members expect to remove that limitation through improvements made with this grant and their hard work.
The Olney Blue Skies 4-H Club of Lincoln County has seen a growing interest in poultry exhibits in recent years. Funding will be used to make needed improvements to the fairground’s poultry barn, which will help accommodate livestock and exhibitors during shows and make fairgrounds healthier and safer for both animals and visitors.
The Building Our American Communities program has been supporting youth projects since the 1970s. Each year, youth organizations throughout Missouri submit proposals for consideration for the grants, which range from $100 to $500 and support specific projects within each community. The grants are funded through Missouri’s Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA.
4-H clubs and FFA chapters awarded grants this year must complete their projects no later than September 1, 2013.
For more information on the Department and its programs, visit mda.mo.gov.
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