Grant Presented To Youth Ag Group; Portion Of New 4-H Facility Ready

April 2, 2015

Monsanto presented a $2,500 America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant to the Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization Wednesday.

The grant was won by Walnut Hill farmer Brett Ward who in turned asked that it be donated to the group to be used for prizes and premiums at their Annual Livestock Show, and for other youth agriculture educational programs.

“The grant enables farmers to put money back into their communities,” Rod Higdon, Monsanto representative, said.

The presentation was held at the new county-owned 4-H property on South Highway 99 in Molino. The site includes two parcels — a 79.5 acre lot that already includes a covered barn and will be home to most 4-H activities and a 28.7 parcel that will be used for livestock activities.

The first phase of the project, on the 28.7 acres, is mostly complete, with a half dozen barns and a covered arena for livestock.

For more photos of the facility and presentation, click here.

Construction should be complete within the next couple of years on facilities set to include restrooms, a small classroom, nature trails, campsites for tent camping, fire pit for outdoor cooking and group events, bird blind, archery area, a low ropes course and more on the larger parcel.

In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union.

The GCA and NRA Livestock show will bee held Saturday April 18 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Molino Facility on South Highway 99 just north of Chalker Road. FFA and 4-H youth ages 8-18 will exhibit rabbits, poultry, swine and cattle followed by a live auction.

Pictured:  Monsanto presented a $2,500 America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant to the Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization Wednesday. Pictured top are (L-R) 4-H member Allison Woodfin, GCA and NRYO President Jack Livingston, Monsanto’s Rod Higdon, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, Walnut Hill farmer and grant applicant Brett Ward, and Northview FFA member Mitchell Singleton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Grant Presented To Youth Ag Group; Portion Of New 4-H Facility Ready”

  1. d on April 5th, 2015 4:39 pm

    @ local yokel ;
    Escambia County IS NOT managing the $3.6 mil. It is under IFAS, Gainesville and 4H foundation. The county has no say in the expenditure of those monies. It might be easier to use if there was a better local control of its use.. The current control makes it almost impossible to use in ways that might be beneficial to local 4H wants/needs and .desires. Look up Escambia 4H foundation members in Google or Escambia 4H.There ,is t he list of people that have the largest say on expenditures.

  2. Local Yokel on April 5th, 2015 7:33 am

    It is wonderful that the 4-H’ers were given this grant! Thank you, it will be put to use… What is sad is that the money from the LBC is being ‘managed’ by the county.

  3. david lamb on April 3rd, 2015 11:20 am

    GREAT GRANT!
    Maybe there is more grant monies out there. I would love to see cabins and a lake to match LBC and there is more land there available to add on to and make that facility even better.
    I and other ex-4Hers have seen a lot of facilities and I have a concern with the building approach being utilized.

  4. Janine Walker on April 2nd, 2015 7:08 pm

    What a wonderful way to give back to the community you grew up in. Way to go Brett. I see my two bus babies Stewart and Rayleigh(?).

  5. Jane on April 2nd, 2015 4:51 am

    Thank you Mr. Ward, for caring so much about the 4H group! Thank you to Monsanto also.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News