A local fire department has received some additional funding thanks to a nation-wide program administered by Monsanto.
The Weldon Fire Department has received a 25-hundred dollar grant from the Monsanto Fund through the "America's Farmers Grow Communities" campaign. Weldon Fire Chief, Larry Helton, was honored to receive the funding, and says the rural DeWitt County department will use the money to purchase a grain bin extrication device.
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The Grow Communities campaign allows Monsanto customer farmers to enter into a random drawing each year, and then one farmer from each eligible county is selected as a winner. Justin Goble, who farms in the Weldon area, was selected as the DeWitt County winner for 2015. He knows first hand the need of extra funding for local fire departments due to his family's history of serving on them.
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Over 90-thousand farmers across the nation entered the drawing this year. Jeff Brown, local DSM for Dekalb/Asgrow, notes the program has grown tremendously since its inception in 2010.
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Goble's presentation to the Weldon Fire Department took place as part of the east central Illinois Grow Communities awards program last week at the Midwest Ag Expo. During the presentation, 17-thousand 5-hundred dollars was awarded to seven non-profit groups.
County - Winner - Non-Profit
Champaign - Eldred Cornelius - Community Service Center
Christian - James Ade - Loaves & Fishes Pantry
Coles - Randy Ellis - Oakland FFA
DeWitt - Justin Goble - Weldon Fire Department
Fayette - Tim Emerick - Vandalia FFA
Logan - Mary Boyer - Lincoln-Logan Food Pantry
Macon - Linda Volle - Argenta School District
McLean - Gary & Bobbie Brucker - Ridgeview Food Pantry
Montgomery - Kimberly Lipe - Montgomery Co. Cancer Ass.
Moultire - Kathy Ruff - Christ's Pantry
Piatt Ronald Meece Faith In Action
Sangamon - Steve Stahl - Dove Inc.
Shelby - Robert Walk - St. Michael Catholic School
