Elkhart County 4-H Fair uses donated funds to rebuild facility
LaGrange, Indiana – January 14, 2008 – The Elkhart County 4-H Fair received a $3,500 financial contribution from Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS), an ag lending cooperative with offices throughout Indiana, including LaGrange. The gift will be used to help rebuild a facility that was destroyed by fire late last year.
“Since the fire, which destroyed four buildings and damaged several others, we have had discussions on how to improve the facilities. We are even talking about building a common eating or resting area, so there will definitely be a need for structural upgrades, like relocation of sewer, or power outlets,” said Jeff Burbrink with the Elkhart County Extension Director.
“This facility was an important landmark to our community and the youth who used it,” said Larry Dickinson, financial services officer with Farm Credit in LaGrange. “We recognized that helping to rebuild the facility was an important project for our cooperative. 4-H has a permanent and positive impact on today’s youth, helping them develop character and set strong leadership standards. We didn’t want to see such an important program not have an adequate facility its members.”
Dickinson added that over 380 farmers and rural residents in Elkhart County are customers of the agricultural cooperative, many of whom have youth involved in 4-H. “The people of Elkhart County have been good to Farm Credit over the years. The donation to rebuild the facility at the fairgrounds was just one small way we could show our appreciation to our customers and the community,” said Dickinson.
The donation represents another part of Farm Credit’s commitment to allocate stewardship dollars to programs that build leadership and encourage teamwork in rural America’s youth. Farm Credit Services, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, gives back to local communities through its FCS Support for Agriculture Stewardship Program implemented this year with the endorsement of the cooperative board’s 18 members. The program targets funds to agricultural projects and educational initiatives, giving priority to youth and young farmers.
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County Extension Director Jeff Burbrink and Elkhart County 4-H Fair President Bob Troyer accepted a $3,500 donation from Farm Credit Services representatives Larry Dickinson and Galen McFee of LaGrange, Indiana. The donation will be used to help rebuild a 4-H facility destroyed by fire late last year.
About Farm Credit Services
Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $13 billion financial services cooperative serving over 81,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association, which celebrated its 90th anniversary serving rural America in 2006, provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating, equipment and housing and related services such as crop and life insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM.