by Kristina Gabalski
Left to right: Amie Matichak, Kaitlin Waters, Megan Waters, Matt Stewart, Gabrielle McGarvey, Dillon Stewart, Nathan Holt, Bill Wynne, Greg Stokoe.Monroe County 4-H has received a $2,500 donation from Greg Stokoe of Stokoe Farms in Scottsville through America’s Farmers Grow Communitites (SM) program.
Grow Communities gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local non-profit organizations. Stokoe was the winning farmer in Monroe County. The donation was made during ceremonies February 16 at Cornell Cooperative Extension on Highland Avenue in Rochester.
Stokoe says he recognizes the need for local 4-H projects like livestock showing and agriculture competitions and decided to direct his donation to 4-H.
“The 4-H program is a great opportunity for youth to develop leadership skills,” Stokoe says.
He told the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald that his mother was a 4-H teacher for many years, “I was introduced to 4-H as a child; it was a fantastic experience,” Stokoe says. “We’ve always been a supporter of 4-H and I know folks in the program who are excited about it. You hear all of our farmers saying we need to introduce the younger generation to farming.”
Monroe County 4-H will use the $2,500 to support 4-H members in the development of fair projects and provide support to the 4-H staff and mentors.
“Youth are able to increase their confidence through displaying their projects at the fair. The participants are also able to build their leadership and professional skills by learning from the judges,” says Amie Matichak, 4-H program leader.
Through the Grow Communities program, farmers in 1,245 eligible counties have the chance to win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit organizations, officials say. The Monsanto Fund has invested more than $3.1 million to rural communities this year alone and more than $45,000 has been donated to nonprofits in New York.
Organizers say Grow Communities is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communitites.
