C Magazine - Spring 2018

Starting From Seed

Tera Fair 2018-04-21 07:48:55

Using a combined $10,000 grant from Community Cooperative Oil Association in Faribault, Minn., and the CHS Seeds for Stewardship program, fire fighters are adding rescue equipment and training to handle rescues from grain bins and other confined spaces.

Matching grants program encourages shared support and mutual success.

Look across the United States and you’ll see a landscape dotted with tight-knit rural communities filled with hard-working people who are always willing to lend a hand. In many of those communities, cooperatives provide supplies and services to help farmers thrive while they support local projects that help ensure ongoing success for rural America.

CHS Corporate Citizenship recently launched the Seeds for Stewardship program to help local cooperatives extend their impact in community efforts. The competitive program matches cooperative contributions up to $5,000 for projects that advance ag health and safety, and develop agricultural leadership for youth in rural America.

“Since Seeds for Stewardship began in early 2017, CHS has partnered with more than 70 local cooperatives on more than 100 projects in rural communities,” says Jessie Headrick, director, CHS Stewardship. “From grain bin safety equipment to supporting FFA chapters, it’s exciting to see the impact we can have when cooperatives work together.”

Grain Safety Upgrades

More than 25 grain bin entrapment incidents are reported every year. Helping to provide grain bin rescue equipment is one way CHS helps rural fire departments prepare to respond to these incidents. Of the 41 local safety grants awarded through Seeds for Stewardship, nearly half have supported grain bin safety equipment and training.

When Kelley Watts of Community Cooperative Oil Association, Faribault, Minn., first heard about Seeds for Stewardship matching grants, she reached out to Faribault Fire Chief Dusty Dienst to determine the department’s priorities.

Using a combined $10,000 grant from Community Cooperative Oil Association in Faribault, Minn., and the CHS Seeds for Stewardship program, fire fighters are adding rescue equipment and training to handle rescues from grain bins and other confined spaces.

“We can’t do grain bin rescues without proper gear and our equipment does not last forever,” says Dienst. “Old equipment can still be utilized, but these things need to be replaced over time.”

Using a combined $10,000 grant from Community Cooperative and CHS, Dienst and his team will have 25 sets of harnesses for grain bin and other confined space rescues. Faribault fire fighters will undergo training so they are prepared to use the equipment and it will be available to surrounding fire departments.

Funding from the CHS location based in Brandon, S.D., and the CHS Seeds for Stewardship program helped Lennox Sundstrom FFA add a high-tunnel greenhouse, livestock building and outdoor classroom at the chapter’s school farm in southeastern South Dakota.

For Watts, even if one life is saved, the project will be a success.

“Projects like this one are essential to enriching our rural areas and the people who live here,” says Watts. “The goal for Community Cooperative and CHS is to better our communities and show that we care.”

Hands-on Learning

When Lance Jibben at CHS, Brandon, S.D., was approached by members of Lennox Sundstrom FFA asking for support to build a school farm, he immediately realized the potential. As an FFA alumnus, he had experienced firsthand the personal growth and leadership opportunities offered through FFA.

“When the FFA chapter needed support to build the farm, everyone was on board,” says Jibben, the Worthing, S.D., ag location manager for CHS. “Several of our employees are Lennox Sundstrom FFA alumni and we’ve hired interns from there.”

The chapter received $10,000 from CHS at Brandon and Seeds for Stewardship to build a livestock barn, high-tunnel greenhouse and outdoor classroom.

“Despite this being in a rural community, not many students have exposure to agriculture,” says Jibben. “Now local kids are getting involved in agriculture beyond a backyard garden.”

The students have led the project from the beginning, assisting with fundraising, planning and even construction of the facility.

“The kids have built the entire greenhouse, assembled the wood sides and trusses for the livestock building, and planned the outdoor classroom,” says Jim Wilson, FFA advisor and ag teacher, Lennox Sundstrom FFA. “Through the project, they’ve experienced personal growth and learned skills that will make them employable in the future.”

The students saw their hard work come to fruition when animals were moved in and greenhouse planting began in early 2018. Wilson is quick to point out that the lessons learned at the school farm would not be possible without the community and local businesses like CHS coming together.

“We have been overwhelmed by community support,” he says. “Local businesses and individuals came together to support our kids and raise even more than we had planned. Thanks to that generosity, we’ve had the flexibility to build larger facilities and add features that will give students even greater experiences.”

Get Involved

Is there a local project in your rural community that would benefit from receiving matching funds? Encourage your cooperative to apply for a Seeds for Stewardship grant today. Applications will be accepted until July 1, 2018.

LEARN MORE: Visit us at chsinc.com/stewardship.

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