Growing Our Communities Grant
Keeping the future of agriculture bright
Each year, AgSouth Farm Credit supports non-profit organizations and farmers markets with grants of up to $5,000 to help in their endeavors and to further the future of agriculture in our region of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Grant Mission & Objectives
The AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant's mission is to build strong partnerships and alliances, leveraging the resources within our grant program to preserve and promote the farmer, the family, and our communities. The grant has three main objectives:
- Invest in the future of agriculture.
- Enhance and impact the quality of life in the AgSouth territory.
- Be recognized as a leading corporate citizen in the AgSouth territory.
Applications
The AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant operates on an application-based grant system. Grants will be awarded for up to $5,000 per organization per year. To be considered for funding, organizations' values and purpose must align with the grant program's mission. Applications must be submitted online. You will be asked to attach a copy of your organization's W9 to the application prior to submission. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Please make sure you complete all fields prior to submission.
Project Guidance
As part of the application, organizations must submit a project the grant will help fund. Examples of previously funded projects include but are not limited to:
• Providing farmers market programming for children
• Purchasing fans for a livestock arena to help cool the animals
• Developing a comprehensive chick hatching program to give tools and resources to those wanting to raise backyard flocks
• Opening a demonstration farm in conjunction with a local school district
• Purchasing grain bin rescue equipment for fire and rescue teams
• Funding a bee-keeping education program for vulnerable youths
• Purchasing an irrigation system at a local Farmers Market
• Expanding a local church garden space and adding fencing
• Hosting an annual agricultural event
• Purchasing a cargo trailer to transport livestock equipment
• Building a school greenhouse
Eligibility Considerations
Grants will be considered for programs only in the 147 counties and geographic areas where AgSouth Farm Credit conducts business. Grants will only be awarded to non-profit organizations and farmers markets and will not be awarded to individuals or private farms.
Funding Cycle
Grant applications will be accepted from April 1 to June 30th, 2024. Proposals will be reviewed and grants will be awarded in Nov-Dec of 2024. Funds awarded maybe utilized by recipients during the 2025 calendar year.
Application Deadline
The 2025 Grant Application period is now closed. Applications for 2026 will open April 1, 2026.
Questions
Please contact
Ansley Turnblad, Marketing Specialist, at Ansley.Turnblad@AgSouthFC.com or
call 844.AGSOUTH.
Heather Brannen, PR Marketing Manger, at Heather.Brannen@AgSouthFC.com,
2023-2024 AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant Winners
- Georgia
Coffee County Young Farmers (Coffee County): The Coffee County Young Farmers will expand the C.A.R.E. (Coffee Agricultural Research and Education) Farm by purchasing a plastic mulch layer and drip layer attachment and supplies. The goal of this project is to educate students and community members on the benefits of utilizing this production practice on our educational farm to control weed issues and conserve water as well as provide local young farmer members the opportunity to check out and utilize the equipment on their operation.
Effingham Extension/4-H (Effingham County): The Georgia 4-H Livestock Program educates students where they learn responsibility of raising, showing, and judging livestock. This project will create a poultry program for Effingham County. Through this project, students will have the opportunity to learn and understand the process of poultry judging. Effingham 4-H will use funds to construct a chicken coop in an effort to build up a program within the local community.
Forsyth Farmers' Market (Chatham County): Funds will be used to support the Youth Booth, a Forsyth Farmers’ Market (FFM) program designed for children aged 3 to 14 years. FFM hosts the Youth Booth program every Saturday during the Spring and Summer from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The program has several goals, including improving the eating behavior of children, increasing family attendance at the farmers' market, boosting the customer base and revenue for local farmer vendors, and fostering the development of healthy and thriving communities.
Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (Toombs County): Gardens of Hope is investing in the future of their community by reaching those struggling with substance use disorder, by planting seeds of change through horticulture therapy. Grant funds will be used for the creation of a community garden gives both the individual seeking recovery, the blessings of planting, while simultaneously blessing those in need with the harvest.
Midway Elementary School (Pierce County): Funding will be used to expand the current chicken coop and begin to hatch and raise baby chicks as part of the newly implemented Agriculture class at the Midway Elementary School. By providing elementary kids with a chicken coop and an incubator, a unique learning environment is created that promotes scientific inquiry, responsibility, empathy and environmental stewardship. It offers an experiential approach to education that engages students in a meaningful and memorable way!
Morningside Farmers Market (Fulton County): Morningside Farmers Market (MFM) will launch the next phase of an innovative customer loyalty program. The program was seeded as a pilot in spring 2023 with outreach, loyalty cards and incentives and successfully recruited 254 existing and new customers to the program. In the next year, MFM will expand the program to build community, recruit new customers and increase sales for farmers.
Peachtree Road Farmers Market (DeKalb County): Each week the Market will purchase unsold fruits and vegetables from our farmers to donate to the local food pantry that serves over 100 people each distribution day. This program keeps food out of the compost bins and into the hands of folks who typically only receive canned/boxed foods from the pantry. Unlike the canned/boxed goods the families get to choose which fruits and vegetables they'd like to take home. Funding will buy one and half tons of fresh fruits and vegetables from our farmers.
Pike County FFA Alumni: (Pike County) The Pike County FFA Alumni will provide the Pike County Show Team with a training corral/area for their livestock exhibition projects. Currently the Agriculture Program does not have a suitable practice space for their market hogs. In the past minor injuries have occurred due to hazardous terrain. This grant will serve a two fold purpose in providing a safe area to work the market hogs and allow students to practice proper showmanship skills.
Screven County Christian Academy (Screven County): The student entrepreneur program will use funds to erect a large greenhouse which will provide an area to begin a hydroponic system to grow plants. The students will form a company to produce edible plants. The greenhouse will contain hydroponic equipment, electrical outlets, plumbing for the hydroponic equipment.
Southeast Bulloch High School FFA (Bulloch County): The Southeast Bulloch FFA chapter uses their greenhouse as a teaching facility & a fundraising opportunity. Students enrolled in General Horticulture & Nursery Landscape classes gain hands on experience in the greenhouse learning about proper plant care & greenhouse maintenance. The current greenhouse is over 20 years old & funds will be used to purchase a new cool cell & a new ventilation motor.
UGA Extension - Pike County (Pike County): Hands-on learning experiences provided through a teaching apiary and pollinator programming cultivates a new generation of pollinator advocates and beekeepers while also enhancing the knowledge of experienced beekeepers. This effort leads to improved pollinator health and community. Funds will be used to support and expand the apiary.
Wayne Christian Academy (Wayne County): Wayne Christian Academy will use grant funds to develop a school-wide greenhouse for Preschoolers to graduating Seniors. This greenhouse will help develop a love for agriculture, botany, and farming in their students.
West Point Active Life (Troup County): Grant funds will be used to purchase additional gardening beds and supplies for senior adults who attend our center.
- North Carolina
Agribusiness Henderson County (Henderson County): Residents of Henderson County, and especially new ones, are increasingly attracted by the beauty of the area farmland, but are not always aware of what comes with rural and farm activities. In an effort to prevent conflict between residents and our farmers, grant money will be used to produce an informative video, "Living Near a Farm...What to Expect".
Alamance County 4-H (Alamance County): Each Spring, Alamance County 4-H offers an Embryology school enrichment program for 2nd and 8th grade classrooms. Classrooms incubate and hatch chicks. To better the existing program, and be in compliance with the fire marshal's office, grant funds will be used to purchase 30 chick heat plates. The heat plates are a safe alternative to the heat lamps, which are a fire hazard. Teachers will receive an incubator, egg turner, heat pad and 4-H curriculum to teach the life cycle through hands-on learning.
Appalachian State University Foundation (Watauga County): The Appalachian State University Foundation will enhance its on-campus Sustainable Development Civic Garden, which brings the farm to campus. Anchored by an Appalachian Heritage Garden, the SD Civic Garden is a living laboratory for community gardening instruction and urban agriculture, and it trains food system practitioners.
Ashe County Agriculture Center - Livestock Barn & Pavilion (Ashe County): Ashe County plans to use grant funding to assist with construction of a 19,500 ft multi-purpose agricultural center consisting of a livestock aggregation facility and meeting space for trainings, commodity group meetings, and conferences. The purpose of the livestock facility is to facilitate local sales that will increase income for cattlemen, provide infrastructure to aid producers with herd management, and assist you programs with animal science training.
Crossnore Communities for Children (Forsyth County): Crossnore will use funding to enhance and maintain their 100-acre Miracle Grounds Farm. The Farm supports Crossnore’s mission of creating healthy futures for children by providing hope and healing through experiential learning and exploratory education for the NC foster youth served by Crossnore. Many Farm activities are designed using a trauma-informed lens to build resiliency in youth as well as to deepen their experience of nature. The Farm is also open to the public.
Davidson County Cattlemen's Association (Davidson County): Grant funds will be used to purchase portable cattle handling equipment for livestock producers (small, new, and with inadequate facilities) to rent. The handling equipment will allow them to perform basic management practices to improve and maintain proper health standards while adding a safety aspect for both the producer and the cattle as well.
Giving Spoon, Inc. (Swain County): Giving Spoon, Inc is a non-profit 501C3 organization providing free hot meals two times per week to those facing food insecurity in Swain County. Funding will be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables to be able to provide the most healthiest meals possible.
Living Word Church (Catawba/Lincoln County): Funding will be used to support the opening of a Hope Center rehabilitation facility for men in the Catawba/Lincoln County, NC area to treat alcohol and drug (opioid) abuse.
Montgomery Community College - Health and Public Safety Programs (Montgomery County): Funds received from this grant will be used in continuing the construction of an agricultural rescue facility on the site of the Montgomery County Fire Training grounds. These monies will be used to support the building of concrete foundation for our newly received gain silo and in constructing a shelter in which students may be protected from the elements while training.
Piedmont Community College Foundation (Caswell County): Piedmont Community College (PCC) supports the Breakthrough Learning in Agriculture Science and Technology (BLAST!) afterschool enrichment program for elementary-age youth in Caswell County. This grant will be used to help fund the week-long PCC Agriculture Camp offered in Summer 2024 to middle- and high-school aged Caswell County youth. The purpose of these programs is to support a pipeline of interest in agriculture careers among adolescents in our local community.
The Boonville Community Volunteer Fire Department (Yadkin County): This grant will purchase a grain bin rescue system to aid in the rescue of agricultural workers who become victims of grain engulfment's inside of grain silos or other grain storage vessels. This rescue system will allow firefighters to safely mitigate engulfment incidents and help save the lives of victims to this hazardous potential in the agricultural industry which is very prevalent in our community which has around 180 grain bins and silos.
Union County Soil & Water Conservation District (Union County): Union County Soil and Water Conservation District will use grant funds to purchase traps for feral pigs. Feral pigs pose a massive problem for our local row crop farmers, livestock producers, and timber producers by destroying crops and degrading valuable natural resources. With the acquisition of a trap, farmers/landowners would be able to rent them to manage the feral pig population and add another level of protection to their property.
Veterans Healing Farm (Henderson County): Veterans Healing Farm (VHF) will use grant funds to increase production for its Produce Donation program by installing a drip irrigation system throughout all Farm gardens, including the Flag Garden dedicated to the memory of Cpl. Matthew Bolar. The VHF Produce Donation program will donate the increased farm harvest free of charge to low-income, elderly, and disabled veterans as well as their families and caregivers at homeless shelters and the VA Hospital.
Victory Junction Gang Camp, Inc. (Randolph County): Annually, Victory Junction provides 10,000+ experiences for children 6-16 living with disabilities/serious illnesses/chronic medical conditions – and their families. Barn experiences in Jessie’s Horsepower Garage are a fan favorite of our campers! This grant will support the purchase of an agriculture sprayer to help maintain healthy pastures, barn supplies, fly spray system refills for six horses, tack, therapeutic equipment and fans.
Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District (Wilkes County): Wilkes SWCD will use grant funds to assist with building a Mobile Soils Classroom. Built out of a 28’ gooseneck trailer with a rear ramp & side door, the classroom will allow students to have an interactive, walk-through experience of what the world beneath their feet looks like. It will provide teachers resources to teach curriculum standards related to soils. Wilkes SWCD will use the classroom at over 6 regional/state education events annually & will be available to 27 public, private, & home schools in Wilkes County.
Yadkin County Rescue Squad and EMS (Yadkin County): This grant will be used to upgrade our off road/agriculture rescue capabilities with the addition two items: a light weight titanium stokes basket (patient carrying device), and a battery operated angle cutter for use during farm implement rescue.
- South Carolina
Axis 1 Center of Barnwell (Barnwell County): The Barnwell Farmers Market will use funds to implement nutrition incentive programs and provide educational resources to the community in the form of demonstrations, workshops, giveaways and informational tables at the market. Working with collaborative partners, programs for both youth and adults will provide access to healthy foods, educate on the connection between local food choices and quality of life, and provide the community access to resources needed to improve their health.
Farmers Market of Bluffton (Beaufort County): The community-based, weekly farmers market provides local farmers an outlet to sell their agriculturally based goods as well as educational opportunities for adults and children to learn the importance of the future of farms and how to cultivate their own gardens/farms through Master Gardeners, Little Gardeners, and local school programs. Grant funds will be used to finance our Little Growers Program, outreach to schools & other organizations, and assist farmers in certification of WIC, SNAP, EBT, etc.
Friends of the Agricultural Museum (Anderson County): This grant will support the oral history project, highlighting and interviewing South Carolina’s Century Farmers and collecting farm histories, stories, photographs, and documents. These interviews will take place at farms across the entire state of South Carolina and the information gathered freely shared to the public digitally and in-person.
Fox Ridge Fund (Dorchester County): The Agriculture program at Ashley Ridge High School will use funds to fence in additional 10-15 acres in order to expand Fox Ridge Farm.
Greer Farmers Market (Greenville County): Greer Farmers Market will used grant funds to go mobile with the purchase of an enclosed trailer to reach more of the community with education and events. Through local partnerships, your Greer Farmers Market will be able to participate in more area activities to promote the local food supply.
John de la Howe School Foundation, Inc. (McCormick County): The John de la Howe School Foundation will use funds to support the 2024 Summer Youth Camps for ages 6-14 held on the school campus. The camps will include the following: Aggie Adventure, Environmental and Outdoor Recreation, Container Gardening, Beekeeping, Animal Science, Horticulture, Fly Fishing, and Equine Camps.
Kershaw County Farmers' Market (Kershaw County): As the first of a 3 phase, 5 year project, Kershaw County Farmer's Market will use funds to construct a new seating area that will be available to all that attend the market-families, retirees and handicapped accessible. It will be in close proximity to vendors, demonstrations, special events and adjacent to the proposed stage and permanent restrooms.
Landrum Farmers Market (Spartanburg County): The Landrum Farmers Market will continue to offer education to young children, ages 4 - 12, through the growing and maintaining of a small garden plot at the Landrum Farmers Market Pavilion. The Little Sprouts Garden Club, which has 21 registered families, was started in April of 2023 and grant funds will help the market continue and enhance the program in 2024.
Operation Patriots FOB (Jasper County): The goal of OPFOB is to help reduce the alarming rate of veteran suicides, which studies have shown is between 22-44/day. The grant funds will be used to plant agricultural plots to support their mission of providing outdoor recreational therapy to veterans, active duty military and first responders. Part of the outdoor recreational therapy includes guided hunting on our 268-acre property.
Orangeburg Preparatory Schools Inc. (Orangeburg County): OPS is will utilize grant funds to create a school fruit, vegetable and wildlife garden. The school believes that agriculture education should be a vital part of every student's school experience. Ag education not only incorporates every major subject area, but it also instills invaluable life skills such as responsibility while allowing students to engage in collaboration with their peers.
Pelion High School FFA (Lexington County): The Pelion FFA Chapter will use funds to construct an equipment storage facility to house research equipment used at the Lexington School District One Center for Advanced Agribusiness Research. The structure will house various pieces of tillage, planting, and spraying equipment used to conduct agricultural research, plant variety trials, and educate students about agronomic principles.
South Spartanburg Fire District (Spartanburg County): This grant will support a "Farm Medic" class from the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads. The class educates firefighters how to treat and save lives of people involved in accidents involving agricultural equipment in commercial, residential, and farm settings. These scenarios involve tractors, hay bailers, augers, lawn mowers, bush hogs, skid steers, and grain bins. This class will teach 40 firefighters in the county the skills to extricate victims in a multitude of situations.
Wateree Beekeepers Association (Kershaw County): WBA provides affordable beekeeping classes for families and scholarships for high school students. Funding will be used to purchase jackets to potential beekeepers, who are visiting our apiaries, it will allow us to immerse potential beekeepers fully, in the experience of working hives, before they invest their the money. Having loaner PPE would allow us to invite non-beekeepers to our Hands in the Hives events, too, making beekeeping more relatable to the non-beekeeper.