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Winners in Monsanto's America's farmers grow Communities program pick non-profits to receive money.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

February 2, 2016

2 Min Read

Eight farmers whose entries were selected in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program gathered together at the Fort Wayne Farm Show recently for a celebration. Six of the farmers were from Indiana, and two were from Ohio.

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What they had in common was that they were selected as winners in the program, which is sponsored by the Monsanto fund. As winners each could direct $2,500 toward a charity or non-profit organization of their choice. Spokespersons for the public relations agency representing the Monsanto Fund say that since 2010, the program has helped farmers in Indiana and Ohio alone direct $2.7 million to community groups, ranging from local fire departments to youth groups and many other community-minded organizations in between.

The northeast Indiana winners weren’t the only winners in Indiana. Other communities have benefitted from this program as well, both now and in the past. Organizers generally select ag farm show or large meeting in the community to present these awards. Typically, both the farmer who was selected and representatives from the non-profit group he or she supports are present at the ceremony.

Here are the six Indiana winners recognized at the farm show, and the organizations they chose to support. Their range of selections provides an idea of what type of programs have been supported through this effort.

• Cory Cox, Whitley County, directed his money to the Washington Township Fire Department in his community.

• John Maddox, Wells County, directed money to the Southern Wells Jr.-Sr. High School athletic fund.

• Jerry Ness, Noble County, picked the Noble County Community Foundation as the recipient.

• Marvin Werling, Allen County, asked that his donation go to Central Lutheran School.

• Michael Werling, a no-till farmer in Adams County, picked the Tri-State Watershed Alliance.

• Richard Kummer lives in Dekalb County. His choice was to see the donation go to the East Side High School FFA chapter.

For more details on the program, visit AmericasFarmers.com.

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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