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Western Illinois University's School of Agriculture is one 16 organizations in Illinois to receive support from 1st Farm Credit Services Donor Advised Fund through the IAA Foundation this year. Representatives from the 16 organizations/programs pictured are, front row, L to R: Ruth Hambleton, Annie's Project; Jessica Arnold, 4-H Livestock Ambassador; Willow Krumwiede, Illinois FFA; Diana Ropp, Illinois Agri-Women; and Wende Dallian, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Back row, L to R: Jeffrey Austman, 1st Farm Credit Services; Mike Elbe, John Wood Community College; Bob Aherin, AgrAbility Unlimited; Katie Davison, Northern Illinois University; Elise Baker, Illinois State University; Kevin Daugherty; Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom; Jim Slama, Good Food Business Accelerator; Don Norton, Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation; Diane Merrion, Cook County Farm Bureau; and Andrew Baker, Western Illinois University School of Agriculture.
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WIU School of Ag Receives Support from 1st Farm Credit Services; One of 16 Programs in Illinois Selected for Funding

April 28, 2015

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MACOMB/NORMAL, IL — Western Illinois University's School of Agriculture is one 16 organizations in Illinois to receive support from 1st Farm Credit Services Donor Advised Fund through the IAA Foundation this year.

According to 1st Farm Credit Services, 2015 marks the fifth year of support through the IAA for groups dedicated to agriculture education, youth and leadership. To date, $569,500 has been distributed to 20 organizations, and association officials announced April 24 that $125,000 from the fund will be distributed to 16 groups this year.

"These funds are a vital component in the development of our students into future leaders in the agricultural industry," WIU School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker said. "1st Farm Credit recognizes Western's School of Agriculture as a good investment and supports our slogan, 'Cultivating Agricultural Leaders,' as well as supports our mission and vision statements. These funds help provide our students with many opportunities to participate in leadership-development activities that they can bring back and implement into their student organizations. It also helps provide our students with personal skills that will aid them in securing future employment. We are very fortunate to have generous supporters like 1st Farm Credit that invest in our students and their futures as agricultural leaders."

"This fund, and the support it has been able to give, has exceeded our vision for the initial donations five years ago," said Larry Fischer, a member of the 1st Farm Credit Services board of directors. "The impact of this fund for current and future generations of agriculturalists is being felt on a daily basis throughout our industry. The work of these groups over the past five years has been phenomenal."

Other groups and/or programs also funded in 2015 include: University of Illinois; Illinois State University; Northern Illinois University's School for Local Food Planning and Technical Assistance Program; John Wood Community College; Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences; Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom; Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation; Illinois FFA; Illinois 4-H; AgrAbility Unlimited; Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation; Annie's Project; Illinois Agri-Women: Women Changing the Face of Agriculture; Food Business Accelerator; and Illinois Harvest Dinner.

For more information, contact Baker at (309) 298-1080 or via email at AJ-Baker@wiu.edu.

Learn more about the WIU School of Agriculture at www.wiu.edu/ag.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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