Stay Informed

Contact:
Colleen Settle
317-692-7822
317-242-8907
csettle@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – Dec. 11, 2023 – Indiana Farm Bureau awarded development grants to four county Farm Bureaus to support new programs or events that promoted education and safety in the agriculture industry. The county Farm Bureaus that received financial assistance for programming this year were Fulton, Hancock, Randolph and Warrick counties.

Each county Farm Bureau presented a new programming idea to INFB. The grant committee reviewed and approved the funds based on financial need and the potential impact of the program in expanding the county Farm Bureau’s engagement and visibility within their community and the ability to reach their organizational goals.

This year, INFB awarded development grants for the following programs:

• Fulton County Farm Bureau was awarded a community grant to help organize and produce “The Comedy Farm Magic Review,” an ag-based comedy show held during the Fulton County Fair. Along with the Fulton County fair board and two other co-sponsors, Fulton County Farm Bureau’s goal of the comedy show was to educate the community on the importance of agriculture, specifically to encourage children to understand where their food comes from in a unique way.

• Randolph County Farm Bureau was awarded a community grant to fund the Cowboy Ethics program at Monroe Central Jr./ Sr. High School for fifth and sixth graders. This national program used experiential learning to teach youth how to live in a community by showing honor and respect, and living authentically. The students applied the values learned to their everyday life, such as having a strong work ethic and dedication when it comes to doing homework. The grant covered the travel time of the instructor and refreshments for the students. The program also opened the door to agriculture-related career options for students who learned that farming can be just as tough as ranching, but equally rewarding. The Cowboy Ethics program ran from September 2022 to May 2023 with over 600 participants.

• Warrick County Farm Bureau was awarded community grant funds to host a grain bin safety training for local farmers and emergency responders. The class, which was led by a grain rescue trainer/consultant from the Purdue Ag and Biological Engineering Department, provided basic awareness strategies for preventing and responding to grain-related entrapments, including partial and full engulfment. Five county fire departments were represented at the training. The grant funds also went toward purchasing grain rescue equipment for the local township volunteer fire department. Warrick County Farm Bureau plans to organize similar grain bin safety events for local fire departments and farmers in the future. 

• Hancock County Farm Bureau received a community grant to sponsor Ag Youth Safety Day this past fall, in partnership with their local FFA chapter at Greenfield Central High School. The event, which took place at the Hancock County fairgrounds, was specifically designed for students to learn more about rural road safety from experts in the community, such as Hancock County Farm Bureau and the Hancock County Sheriff Department, just in time for the harvest season.

INFB’s program and community development grants are issued quarterly with one application submitted per county per calendar year. All Indiana county Farm Bureaus are eligible to apply for up to $1,500 in funding each year.

###

About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected and enhanced the future of agriculture and our communities. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to cultivate a thriving agricultural ecosystem to strengthen the viability of Indiana agriculture. Learn more at INFB.org.