AgStar Fund Awards over $36,000 in Grants to School
Agriculture Programs Departments
$50,000 is available for rural Emergency Response Departments
MANKATO, MN (September 27, 2010) – The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is proud to announce $36,700 in grants was recently awarded through their AgStar Agriculture Classroom Equipment Grant Program. AgStar awarded grants to 17 high schools in their service area. The program’s mission is to support ag education by funding educational experiences where students do course work relevant to agriculture and related fields.
“Agriculture departments in rural areas have limited budgets, many lacking adequate and up-to-date equipment to provide hands-on teaching tools,” stated John Monson, Chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees. “AgStar created this grant program because we believe in ag education and are committed to the rural and agricultural communities where we operate.”
“Ag education in high schools develops leadership skills and prepares students interested in careers in the agricultural field,” continued Monson. “The curriculum helps develop management, job, communication, literacy and other applied academic skill sets and prepares students for careers and lifelong learning. It’s an honor to be in a position to help subsidize equipment and technology they might not otherwise have access to.”
The 17 Wisconsin and Minnesota schools receiving grants this year include: Central High School in Carver, MN, Forest Lake High School, Glennville-Emmons Schools, Glenwood City FFA, Grand Rapids High School, Jackson County Central High School, Kingsland High School, Mountain Lake High School, NRHEG High School, Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School , Royalton High School, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton School, Sauk Centre High School, Sibley East School, Spring Valley High School, Southwest Star Concept High School in Heron Lake – Okabena, MN, and United South Central High School.
Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $3million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America. The Fund’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life and future opportunities for rural residents and their communities.” The Fund focuses on one of the four key areas of support: Education, Technology, Environment and Quality of Life.
AgStar Financial Services, ACA, headquartered in Mankato, Minn., employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public mission to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. AgStar’s industry specialization, client segments and market delivery systems result in diversification nationwide. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries. AgStar has developed successful programs in loans, leases, crop insurance, tax services, accounting, consulting and rural home mortgages. As a value-added financial services cooperative, AgStar allocates patronage dividends to its 13,000 stockholders. Visit www.AgStar.com for more information.
(Back to Press Releases)