AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $53,800 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 with the goal of supporting endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia. Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.
“Word about the program has really begun to spread, particularly among organizations supporting military veterans and groups combating food insecurity,” said AgGeorgia CEO Rob Crain. “As we move into 2025 and soon open the application period for our third year of the fund, we are excited to receive new applications and raise awareness of deserving organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural Georgia.”
The twelve organizations that received funding are:
- Ben Hill County 4-H (Ben Hill County) – Funds are being used to establish a teaching garden at the local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Office, designed to be fully ADA accessible.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County (Jackson County) – Grant funds will be used to install a community garden at the Commerce location with raised garden beds, a labyrinth/walking circle for meditation, and a pollinator garden.
- Byromville Community Food Pantry (Dooly County) – This new food pantry in Byromville was created to serve the rural community often overlooked by larger organizations. Funds will go towards purchasing and distributing food to feed an estimated 50 families a month.
- Comfort Farms (Baldwin County) – Funds will be used to establish a perennial herb garden to support local cuisine and teas that help a variety of conditions such as insomnia, hypertension, and diabetes.
- C-Qul (Bibb County) – This organization will use grant funds to implement “Give what you can, take what you need” pantries at a local recreation center and church. These pantries will allow easy access to food for large areas that house lower-income families.
- Doc’s Healing Hives and Honey (Fannin County) – Grant funds will be used to create a suitable and accessible space for local beekeepers to process their honey using an electric extractor.
- Georgia Envirothon (Clarke County) – The Georgia Envirothon is a natural resource education program designed to challenge students in an interactive, outdoor competition. Grant funds will go towards the State Competition that takes place in various State Parks around Georgia.
- Hero Agriculture (Gordon County) – Funds will be used to develop a prototype and pilot a backyard farming startup kit for veterans.
- Hickory Log Personal Care Home (Bartow County) – This organization will use grant funds to extend the fence around its chicken coop and add more chickens.
- Sacred Roots Farm (Hall County) – Funds will be used to meet the permitting requirements to obtain a Department of Ag Food Sales Establishment License to sell farm-raised eggs commercially.
- Teloga Volunteer Fire Department (Chattooga County) – Grant funds will be used to replace out-of-date tools for their woodland firefighting project.
- Thomson Middle School FFA (Houston County) – This FFA Chapter will use funds to develop a Community Garden to educate students about agriculture, sustainability, and community service.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit will start accepting applications for the program for 2025 grants in January of next year. For more information and to apply when the application period re-opens, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.
