WALTON — Lewis Cass High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter and area farmers are teaming up for the sixth year in a row to help graduating seniors with college expenses.
The chapter recently conducted its annual field day to kick off the 2009 grain drive to benefit the Lewis Cass Scholarship Fund. The effort is organized each year by the Cass County Community Foundation.
The ceremonial kickoff took place on the FFA member Spenser Forgey’s family farm.
Cass principal Bill Isaacs said the fundraiser started after a suggestion from Cass County farmer Ted Blank, who mentioned it was something farmers used to do years ago.
“It’s a really good fundraiser,” he said.
Area farmers can make tax-deductible donations any time during harvest season to participating grain elevators. Donations are being accepted at Walton Elevator, ADM Clymers and at The Andersons in Delphi and Clymers. The donations can either come in the form of money or grain.
When the fundraiser first started in 2004, the drive was known as Corn for Kings, Isaacs explained. During the first three years, students would take a wagon to the farms and collect the grain. Three years ago, the name was changed to Crops for Kings, since soybeans were also collected.
In five years, 400 individuals, groups and businesses have donated to the fund. Since the fundraiser began, 13 graduating seniors have received $1,000 scholarships.
Three scholarships are expected to be awarded in May, Isaacs said. Two scholarships will be presented to students pursuing a traditional academic education and one to a student who plans to attend a trade or vocational school.
Money raised to date equals $92,500. The original goal was to raise $100,000, but to ensure long-term success for the scholarship the goal has been increased to $150,000 by Dec. 31, 2010.
On average, Isaacs said, between $3,500 and $4,000 is raised each year through the Crops for Kings grain drive.
Area farmers are encouraged to join with students in helping to provide scholarships for deserving students.
“We’re an ag community,” said John Bevan, superintendent of Southeastern School Corp. “We’re proud of the work we’ve done and appreciate the support the farmers have given us.”
• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com.
Want to know more?
For more information on the Crops for Kings program, call the Cass County Community Foundation at (574) 722-2200.
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