February 17, 2015

Director of Ag Announces Grants for 4-H, FFA Youth Service Projects

21 youth organizations to receive funds for 2015

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce announced that 21 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2015 Building Our American Communities grant program today. Eleven local chapters of the National FFA Organization and ten Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year.

“Missouri’s FFA and 4-H youth continue to inspire me with their leadership and generosity,” said Director Fordyce.  “These young men and women are future agriculture leaders, and it is outstanding to see them work on projects that make a difference in their communities. Congratulations to each of the organizations participating in the Building Our American Communities program.” 

Each of the 2015 awardees will receive $500 toward their projects, which may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings, such as fairgrounds, parks or community centers used by local organizations. The 2015 grant recipients are:

FFA
• Ashland FFA Chapter, Ashland (Boone County)
• Chamois-Morrison FFA Chapter, Chamois (Osage County)
• Fatima FFA Chapter, Westphalia (Osage County)
• Gallatin FFA Chapter, Gallatin (Daviess County)
• Hartville FFA Chapter, Hartville (Wright County)
• Lamar FFA Chapter, Lamar (Barton County)
• New Bloomfield FFA Chapter, New Bloomfield (Callaway County)
• Oran FFA Chapter, Oran (Scott County)
• Ste. Genevieve FFA Chapter, Ste. Genevieve (Ste. Genevieve County)
• Stover FFA Chapter, Stover (Morgan County)
• Versailles FFA Chapter, Versailles (Morgan County)

4-H Clubs
• City Clovers 4-H Club, Lamar (Barton County)
• Cooper County 4-H Club, Boonville (Cooper County)
• Kountry Kids 4-H Club, Versailles (Morgan County)
• Learn A Do 4-H Club, Lamar (Barton County)
• Shelby 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)
• Wyandotte 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)
• Neighborly Community 4-H Club, Cairo (Randolph County)
• Pleasant Dorsey 4-H Club, Albany (Gentry County)
• Radiant Rascals 4-H Club, Versailles (Morgan County)
• Tilsit 4-H Club, Cape Girardeau (Cape Girardeau County)

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, 2015.

For more information on the department and its programs, visit agriculture.mo.gov.

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