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AgStar Fund awards grants to high school ag programs

MANKATO – The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently awarded $30,000 in grants through its AgStar Agriculture Classroom Equipment Grant Program.

The program’s mission is to support agricultural education by funding educational experiences for students completing course work in agriculture and related fields.  AgStar awarded grants to 14 high school agriculture departments in its 69-county service area.

“Providing equipment for students to learn about the ag industry is not always in the budget for agriculture departments in rural schools,” stated John Monson, Chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees. “Subsidizing equipment and technology needs through this program for rural schools allows students who are interested in the agricultural field to have new and applied opportunities. This program shows AgStar’s commitment to ag education and to the rural and agricultural communities where we operate.”

The 14 Minnesota and Wisconsin schools receiving grants this year include: Albert Lea Area Schools Ag Department, Bloomer School District, Alden-Conger High School Agricultural Education Department, Eden Valley Watkins School District 463, Central High School Agricultural Education Department, Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA, Worthington High School, Stewartville High School Agriculture Department, Barron High School Agriculture Department, Caledonia FFA/Agriculture Department, Rice Lake High School, Ellsworth Community School District, Rushford-Peterson Schools and the Tri-City United Agriculture Department.

Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $4 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America.

About AgStar

AgStar Financial Services, ACA, headquartered in Mankato, Minn., employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public mission to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. AgStar’s industry specialization, client segments and market delivery systems result in diversification nationwide. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries. AgStar has developed successful programs in loans, leases, crop insurance, consulting and rural home mortgages. As a value-added financial services cooperative, AgStar allocates patronage dividends to its 14,000 stockholders. The company is also committed to giving back to rural residents, organizations and communities through AgStar’s Fund for Rural America. Visit www.AgStar.com for more information.