South Putnam FFA gets $2,500 donation through Monsanto

The South Putnam FFA recently accepted a $2,500 check from the Monsanto Fund as part of the America's Farmers Grow Communities program. The FFA was nominated by Lisa Berry (sixth from left), who accepted the check along with husband Tim Berry (fourth from left) and South Putnam FFA representatives. Eric Wornhoff (left) of Specialty Hybrids made the presentation to (from left) FFA secretary Miriah Cherry, FFA president Lane Hacker, Tim Berry, FFA reporter Zane Crosby, Lisa Berry, FFA sentinel Collin Berry, FFA treasurer Allacyn Arnold, FFA vice president Emily Dobson and FFA sponsor Amanda King.

Touched by the good qualities the FFA program has instilled in her two sons, a Putnam County farmer recently found a way to give back.

Funded by America's Farmers Grow Communities, the $2,500 donation was recently made to the South Putnam FFA chapter at the direction of Lisa Berry.

The donation will help the chapter run its Summer Science Camp for elementary students. The students will learn agronomy, aquaculture, horticulture, and other elements of agriculture science.

Some of the funds will also go to the South Putnam aquaculture lab, which is undergoing an overhaul after more than 20 years.

Thanks to the support of farmers across the country, more than $3.2 million is being directed to nonprofits in 1,289 counties in 39 states.

"The South Putnam FFA have taught these students so much and have helped them grow," Berry said. "The donation can be used to help with their career development. This is an excellent opportunity. Thank you, Monsanto."

The feelings about the FFA chapter are personal for Berry. She and husband Brian have already seen son Justin go through the program and become a district FFA officer before going on to Purdue.

Younger son Collin is now a South Putnam student and serves as the FFA chapter sentinel.

"The biggest part for me is seeing how much they've grown and developed and matured as leaders," Berry said. "How FFA challenges them and gives them confidence.

"I was totally surprised and blown away when my name was picked and I could give this to the FFA."

South Putnam FFA sponsor and agriculture teacher Amanda King was similarly overjoyed at the news, and caught completely off guard.

"When I first got the letter in the mail, I was very confused," King said. She then called Berry and found out more.

"I told my officers and some of the kids in class and we were overwhelmed," King said. "It's nice to know that these kids' hard work has been recognized."

Some of that hard work has been the establishment of a hydroponic system for plant growth the students have been working on for a year or so.

King has also been working with Bell Aquaculture to help overhaul the equipment in the lab, most of which is original.

"I'm sure aquaculture has changed a lot in the last 20 years," King said.

Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, America's Farmers Grow Communities works directly with farmers to support nonprofit organizations like the South Putnam FFA, who are doing important work in their communities.

Eric Wornhoff and Micah Humphreys of Monsanto Specialty Hybrids were on hand at South Putnam to make the presentation to Berry, King and the students.

The program offers farmers the chance to win $2,500, which is then donated to the farmer's nonprofit of choice. The search for funding to sustain and enhance programs is a year-round job for nonprofit organizations across the country.

Through America's Farmers Grow Communities, farmers have been able to support a variety of groups, such as schools, fire departments, community centers and youth organizations like 4-H and FFA.

America's Farmers Grow Communities launched in 2010, and has since donated more than $13 million to more than 5,200 nonprofit organizations across the country.