The end of the fiscal year brings some good news for some good causes in the Dakotas — thanks to the generosity of farmers, ranchers and ag companies.

The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation wrote a check to Feeding South Dakota for $212,000. The money was raised during its Prime Time Gala and Concert in June.

More than 1,300 people attended the foundation’s Prime Time Gala, which included a Toby Keith concert. Since hosting the first Prime Time Gala and Concert in June 2014, the organization has raised over $501,000 for Feeding South Dakota.

BIG CHECK: Ryan Eichler (left), president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation, and Todd Wilkinson (right), president of South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, present Matt Gassen, CEO of Feeding South Dakota, and Kerrie DeGraff, development director of Feeding South Dakota, a check for $212,000 at the foundation’s recent Prime Time Gala and Concert. The foundation was one of several ag groups and ag businesses that recently announced generous donations to nonprofits in the Dakotas.

“The success of this event is a direct reflection of the generosity of our industry partners and the men and women who work tirelessly to produce the most wholesome protein in the world. In the face of difficult economic times, they gave in a big way to make beef available to those in South Dakota who need it the most. We'd like to say ‘thank you,’ and we can’t wait to start planning next year's event,” says Ryan Eichler, president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation. 

Lenders pledge $800,000

AgCountry Farm Credit Services, CoBank, AgriBank, Farm Credit Services of Mandan, Farm Credit Services of North Dakota and United FCS have pledged more than $800,000 to the North Dakota State University Center For Risk Management and Trading. With a matching grant from the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Fund, the pledge will provide more than $1.2 million in support for the center’s endowment.

“Farm Credit is delighted to support this effort to create a best-in-class program with the tools, curriculum and capacity to address the fundamental issue of risk management with a primary focus on agriculture and the biofuels market,” says Amy Gales, executive vice president, Regional Agribusiness, CoBank.

“Risk management is critically important to the future success of U.S. agriculture, and we look forward to the many benefits the center will provide to the industry,” adds Bob Bahl, president and CEO of AgCountry Farm Credit Services.

“We greatly appreciate this significant gift. It is strong support of our teaching and research efforts here,” says Ken Grafton, vice president for Agricultural Affairs at NDSU. “The lab’s state-of-the-art technology and its excellent faculty and staff will address ways to reduce risk in agricultural marketing and trade. The endowment will ensure the facility remains relevant for future students and commodity groups.”

Bayer donates $50,000

Bayer CropScience donated $50,000 to nonprofits in North Dakota on behalf of canola growers. This year’s More for Everyone awards will go toward purchasing new playground equipment for schools, improving a community swimming pool, building a veterans memorial monument and helping numerous other organizations.

Since 2010, farmers who book InVigor canola seed early have been able to nominate a local nonprofit for a More for Everyone award.

“Every year we hear how committed our farmers are to keeping their local communities vibrant,” says Brian Hrudka, U.S. canola and wheat seeds manager for Bayer. “The More for Everyone program is a way of helping our customers help their local communities. We’re thrilled to give northern U.S. canola growers the opportunity to carry over the success of InVigor canola seed into nonprofit groups that make their communities great places to live.”

Each year, a committee of three independent judges chooses the award winners from the farmers’ nominations. During the decision process, the judges consider the organizations’ needs and the benefits that the awards would provide. This year’s judges were Janet Knodel, NDSU Extension entomologist; Jay Rehder, advertising sales at the Red River Farm Network; and Jean Johnson, marketing communicator at AgCountry.

Receiving $7,500 awards this year:

First Lutheran Church in Rugby, N.D.,  to help replace a 50-year-old furnace with a new, efficient one

Bowbells Parent Teacher Organization in Bowbells, N.D., to defray the cost of upgrading existing playground equipment and replacing audio equipment in the gymnasium

Newburg United School in Newburg, N.D., to fund the cost of new playground equipment

Slope County 4-H in New England, N.D., to purchase archery equipment to start a shooting club

Rolla Park and Recreation Board in Rolla, N.D., for maintenance and improvements to the community swimming pool

Receiving $2,500 awards:

Rolette Rural Fire Department in Rolette, N.D., to purchase a thermal imager that assists finding hotspots and people in fires

Annie’s House in Bottineau, N.D., to fund extracurricular activity expenses for kids with physical and mental disabilities

Milton American Legion Post #179 in Milton, N.D., to defray the cost of building a Milton Veterans Memorial Monument

Trinity Health Foundation in Minot, N.D., to fund programs and events for families of children with Type 1 diabetes

Kids Academy in Berthold, N.D., to purchase a transit bus or van to transport children to and from school and field trips

Since 2010, Bayer CropScience has awarded more than $245,000 to North Dakota nonprofits. For more information about the program, see moreforeveryone.com.