Two area fire departments receive donations on behalf of local farmer Mike McCormick

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

When Mike McCormick of Waterville learned about the America’s Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, he knew what non-profit organization he hoped to get funding for, and he was actually able to support two. McCormick originally applied for the $2,500 grant, but last summer’s drought ended up having a bit of a silver lining with the grant program for two local organizations.
To further support counties that were declared disaster areas by the USDA due to drought conditions, McCormick and other winning farmers in those counties were able to double the donation, a total of $5,000 to further support the community. McCormick selected the Waterville Fire Department and the Harpers Ferry Fire Department to each receive $2,500.
“These guys are local, they are our neighbors and they take the time to do this,” he said referring to the dedication of the volunteers on both departments. “We know they can always use some extra support.”
McCormick noted that in his lifetime there have been two grain bin accidents which resulted in deaths less than a mile from his family’s farm. He has requested that the donation to both departments be used for grain bin rescue equipment and training. He was very glad that the doubling of the money meant that he could donate to both the Waterville and Harpers Ferry Fire Departments.
McCormick farms with his two brothers and their father, raising crops, beef and hogs. He had heard of the grant program through Monsanto and his seed corn dealer.
Through the grant program, farmers in 1,271 eligible counties in 39 states could sign up for the opportunity to win a donation for their favorite community non-profit. This year, the Monsanto Fund will invest over $5 million in rural America through Grow Communities, which includes double donations for counties suffering from last year's historic drought. America’s Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to society and to help them positively impact their communities.
For a complete list of Grow Communities winners and more program information, visit growcommunities.com. Entrants must live or farm in an eligible county, be 21 years old or older, and actively engaged in farming with minimum acre guidelines. A farmer is “actively engaged in farming” if he or she performs the work, or hires and actively manages others who do so. A third party randomly selects one winner for each eligible county.