News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce announced that 22 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2016 Building Our American Communities grant program. Twelve local chapters of the National FFA Organization and ten Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year. 

“It is essential that we continue to cultivate a strong passion for agriculture in our young people,” said Director Fordyce. “Missouri FFA and 4-H youth continually demonstrate leadership and generosity and their work on these projects inspires me. I congratulate each of the participating organizations and thank them for raising their hand and making a difference in their community.”  

Each of the 2016 awardees will receive $500 toward their projects, which may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings, such as fairgrounds, parks or community centers used by local organizations. The 2016 grant recipients are:

FFA Chapters

• Atlanta FFA Chapter, Atlanta (Macon County)

• Cabool FFA Chapter, Cabool (Texas County)

• Delta FFA Chapter, Cape Girardeau (Cape Girardeau County)

• Greenfield FFA Chapter, Greenfield (Dade County) 

• Hamilton FFA Chapter, Hamilton (Caldwell County) 

• Hartville FFA Chapter, Hartville (Wright County)

• Houston FFA Chapter, Houston (Texas County)

• Macon County R-IV FFA Chapter (Macon County)

• Odessa FFA Chapter, Odessa (Lafayette County)

• Polo FFA Chapter, Polo (Caldwell County)

• Ste. Genevieve FFA Chapter (Ste. Genevieve County)

• Versailles FFA Chapter, Versailles (Morgan County) 

4-H Clubs

• Achievers 4-H Club, Hamilton (Caldwell County)

• City Clovers 4-H Club, Sheldon (Barton County)

• God’s Clover Patch, Cabool (Texas County)

• Learn A Do 4-H Club, Lamar (Barton County) 

• Polo Trailblazers 4-H Club, Cowgill (Caldwell County)

• Radiant Rascals 4-H Club, Versailles (Morgan County)

• Shelby 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)

• Silver Spurs 4-H Club, Versailles (Morgan County)

• South Eagle 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)

• St. Francois County 4-H Club, Bismarck (St. Francois County)

The Building Our American Communities program has been supporting youth projects since the 1970s. Each year, youth organizations throughout Missouri submit proposals for consideration for the grants, which range from $100 to $500 and support specific projects within each community. The grants are funded through Missouri’s Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA.

4-H clubs and FFA chapters awarded grants this year must complete their projects no later than September 1, 2016.

For more information on the department and its programs, visit agriculture.mo.gov.

###