Since its inception in 1996, the AgEnhancement Program has awarded $1,016,000 through 371 grants.

About surpassing this milestone, Bill Lipinski, president and CEO of First Pioneer Farm Credit, said, “The Northeast Farm Credit associations and CoBank are proud to achieve this noteworthy $1 million-plus milestone, particularly since it reflects our combined support of hundreds of organizations over the past 13 years. We are equally proud of the organizations that received AgEnhancement grants over the years and the impressive work they all do to promote Northeast agriculture, support youth programs and generate a greater understanding of the Northeast’s vital agricultural, commercial fishing and forest products industries among the nonfarm public.”

Recent grant recipients

Individual awards are granted in April, July and December each year. The most recent grants, presented in April, highlight Farm Credit’s ongoing partnership with organizations that make a significant difference in the lives of people involved in all aspects of agriculture throughout the Northeast. In April, the AgEnhancement Program awarded a total of $35,500 to 19 organizations.

The Eastern States FFA Planning Committee received an $8,000 grant to support its FFA Star Award program. The FFA Star Award program brings students from 14 eastern states together to compete in four categories for awards that recognize and reward excellence in agriculture.

First Pioneer’s Bill Lipinski added, “Farm Credit associations have a proud history of supporting FFA and other programs that help develop agriculture’s future leaders. The FFA Star Program, in particular, exemplifies quality agricultural education and experiences for tomorrow’s agriculturists.”

According to Eastern Region Star Farmer Program Superintendent Harrison Griffin, “Each year, the region’s most dynamic FFA members compete for the coveted star awards that are sponsored by Farm Credit and The Big E. Farm Credit’s generosity funds the star awards, travel stipends and the awards luncheon for the FFA stars and their parents, FFA advisers, judges and guests.”

In addition, the most recent AgEnhancement grants also included a $5,000 award to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. According to Foundation President Jim Trezise, “We earmarked this grant to develop a virtual-reality tractor in partnership with the New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education. Our goal is to give nonfarm children and adults a fun way to experience real farm life. Participants will feel like they are actually plowing a field or harvesting a crop while sitting in the tractor and watching video clips through its windshield.

“We hope to have the virtual tractor at the New York State Fair; the New York Wine and Culinary Center; county fairs and urban settings throughout the state by late summer. Giving consumers a closer look at farm life improves their understanding of the role that agriculture plays in providing the safest, most secure and most abundant food supply for their dinner tables.”

Trezise then added, “Grants are vitally important to the continuing work of nonprofit organizations, like ours, particularly at this time of government cutbacks. With this Farm Credit AgEnhancement Grant, we continue to broaden agriculture’s important message.”

Other recent recipients include: New England Green Pastures; New York Jersey Cattle Club; New York State Berry Growers Association; New York State Junior Jersey Club; Maine FFA Association; New Jersey Agricultural Society; Rhode Island Farm Bureau; Vermont Folklife Center; Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of Massachusetts; Farm Fresh Rhode Island; New York Pork Producers; New England Apple Association; Vermont Feed Dealers and Manufacturers Association; 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire; Genesee Valley Farm Discovery Center; Regional Dairy Extension In-Service Training Program; and Northern Forest Center, Inc.

PHOTO: Bill Lipinski (right), president and CEO of First Pioneer Farm Credit, presented an $8,000 Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Grant to Eastern Region Star Farmer Program Superintendent Harrison Griffin (left).