The Jasper County 4-H Program has received a $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and directed by local farmer Joe and Karen Lidy of Jasper County. The donation will help the Jasper County 4-H provide education opportunities and programs to their 8 clubs that are comprised of over 230 Jasper County youth.
According to Joe and Karen Lidy, “we chose the Jasper County 4-H program as our organization of choice because our children where members of 4-H growing up and programs provided them positive experiences.” “We cannot thank the Lidy’s enough for their generous consideration of the 4-H program. This donation through the Monsanto Fund will afford us the opportunity to reach youth that are not currently members of 4-H and grow our clubs, available programs and experiences while increasing our youth numbers,” according to Carl Baker, County Director with the University of Illinois Extension serving Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Jasper Counties.
For six years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $22 million to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America. Winning farmers will direct donations to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom resources, and more.