March 21, 2013
Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler announced that two groups from southeastern 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 Arcadia Valley Career Technology Center FFA Chapter and the Ste. Genevieve FFA Chapter both plan to upgrade local community areas through their service projects.
Iron County’s Arcadia Valley Career Technology Center FFA Chapter will use their grant funds to expand the Iron County Community Garden. FFA members will design two more raised beds for the garden to be used by volunteers to help provide fresh, local produce to the local food pantry and families in the community.
The Ste. Genevieve FFA Chapter will use their funding to purchase materials for FFA and 4-H members to build a new set of bleachers for the Ste. Genevieve County Fair. The new bleachers will be used during the livestock show at the fair, as well as many other events benefiting youth and the community throughout the year.
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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