Douglas Holliman has been farming for 44 years, so appreciation and good management of the land is of great importance to him. Passing on that awareness is one reason he chose Lowndes County 4-H as the recipient of a $2,500 donation from the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Holliman won the opportunity to direct the donation to a nonprofit organization of his choosing.
“Lowndes County 4-H will use the funds toward the purchase of a High Tunnel Greenhouse,” said Sharon Patrick, Mississippi State University Extension Agent. “Youth will gain hands-on learning experiences growing fruits, vegetables and flowers. Thank you, Mr. Holliman, for your consideration and generosity to ensure 4-H continues to grow in our county.”
The Grow Communities program’s purpose is to make a positive impact in farm communities by partnering with farmers to support the causes that are important to them. Each year, farmers enter for a chance to win a $2,500 donation that they direct to a local nonprofit.
Holliman is aware of the work the Extension Service does with 4-H; he’s also aware many programs of the type could use more funds.
“I’ve got 12 grandkids, and I was thinking some of them may be in 4-H some day,” said the farmer who also serves on the Lowndes County Soil Conservation board. “The main thing is to help kids see things being grown … a lot of kids in the city don’t know much about that.”
Since the Grow Communities program began in 2010, farmers have directed more than $26 million in donations across a broad cross-section of organizations that reflect the makeup and character of rural America, including food banks, emergency response organizations, schools, youth agriculture programs and many others.
“Farmers have directed funds to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America since Grow Communities began,” said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund president. “Farmers are truly committed to this program because they see the difference the donation makes in their community.”
The America’s Farmers Grow Communities program will provide more than $3 million in financial support to nonprofits across the U.S. in 2017.
For more information or to see a complete list of the 2017 America’s Farmers Grow Communities recipients, visit GrowCommunities.com.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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