FCS Financial Awards Community Improvement Grants to 113 FFA Chapters and 4-H Clubs

A record number 113 Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters received $500 Shaping Rural Missouri Grants from FCS Financial for community improvement projects this summer. Projects include landscaping fairgrounds, painting bleachers, building picnic tables and improving community parks.

This marks the 14th year FCS Financial has awarded the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant, distributing more than $364,000 statewide through the program.

“It’s exciting to see the record number of grant applications this year,” said Rob Guinn, FCS Financial CEO. “These grants empower 4-H and FFA participants to collaborate on projects that benefit their Missouri communities while simultaneously developing valuable life skills.”

In 2025, FCS Financial awarded the following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters a Shaping Rural Missouri Grant in support of implementing the project listed:

• Kirksville FFA, Liberty 4-H Club, Salt River 4-H Club & Show-Me 4-H Club (Adair County) – Improvements to the men’s restroom at the Northeast Missouri Fairgrounds.
• Andrew County 4-H Youth Council (Andrew County) – Paint a barn at the Andrew County 4-H Fairgrounds.
• Fairfax FFA, Lucky Clovers 4-H, Rock Port FFA & Tarkio FFA Chapters (Atchison County) – Revitalize the Atchison County Fair Swine Barn.
• Liberal FFA (Barton County) – Landscape several community areas in the Liberal community.
• Countyline 4-H Club (Bates County) – Build picnic tables for the community park.
• Hudson Hustlers 4-H Club (Bates County) – Painting bleachers at the fairgrounds
• Centralia FFA Chapter (Boone County) – Build picnic tables at the Centralia Fairgrounds.
• Polo Trailblazer 4-H Club (Caldwell County) – Improve playground at Robison Memorial Park.
• Bogard Willing Workers (Carroll County) – Improve concession stand at 4-H & FFA Youth Building.
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Carroll County) – Improve the wash rack at the county fairgrounds.
• Chase 4-H Club (Carroll County) – Improve the youth building at the Carroll County Fairgrounds.
• Tina-Avalon FFA (Carroll County) – Create an outdoor classroom and garden space.
• Southfork 4-H Club (Cass County) – Create a pollinator garden in front of the local post office.
• Ashton 4-H Club (Clark County) – Pour a sidewalk in front of buildings at the county fairgrounds.
• Blackwater Willing Workers (Cooper County) – Landscape flowerbeds in downtown Blackwater.
• Family Fun 4-H Club (Cooper County) – Replace benches on wooden bleachers at fairgrounds.
• Prairie Home Helping Hands (Cooper County) – Paint the grandstand at the Prairie Home Fairgrounds.
• Zion 4-H Club (Cooper County) – Landscape improvements at Cooper County Fairgrounds.
• Final Drive 4-H Club (Crawford County) – Build bird houses, bird feeders and flower boxes for local nursing home residents.
• Dallas County Beef Kids (Dallas County) – Improve Dallas County Fairgrounds.
• Union FFA Chapter (Franklin County) – Renovate bleachers at Union Fairgrounds.
• Oak Leaf Achievers (Grundy County) – Assist in renovations of Grundy County Extension Office.
• Montrose Busy Beavers 4-H Club (Henry County) – Renovate St. Mary’s playground.
• Viburnum Blue Jays 4-H Club (Iron County) – Renovate part of the Swine Barn at the fairgrounds.
• Blue Springs South FFA Chapter (Jackson County) – Work with the community garden to grow vegetables.
• Lincoln 4-H Club (Jasper County) – Repair the Saddle Club concession stand.
• Hillsboro FFA (Jefferson County) – Improve outdoor learning and community space.
• Good Neighbors 4-H (Johnson County) – Build an announcer's stand at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.
• Mt. Moriah Hustlers (Johnson County) – Improve Johnson County Fairgrounds landscaping.
• Colony 4-H Club, County Liners 4-H Club & Liberty Leaders 4-H Club (Knox County) – Improve gutters on Knox County 4-H and FFA Fairgrounds building.
• Knox County FFA (Knox County) – Work with the local food pantry on school nutrition.
• Hitt 4-H Club (Lafayette County) – Purchase mulch and flowers for Hitt Community Park.
• Santa Fe FFA Chapter (Lafayette County) – Refresh the City of Alma entrance.
• Canton FFA Chapter & Lewis County C-1 FFA Chapter (Lewis County) - Improve and create a safer means of collecting and distributing used bedding at the fairgrounds.
• Monticello 4-H Club, County Line Clovers 4-H Club, Oyster Prairie 4-H Club, Walnut Grover 4-H Club and Ten Mile 4-H Club (Lewis County) – Improve sound system at Lewis County Fairgrounds.
• Moscow Mills Willing Workers 4-H Club (Lincoln County) – Landscape the local community park.
• Pershing’s Pride, South Eagle & South East Linn 4-H Clubs (Linn County)—Construct a roof for the county shooting sports area.
• Springhill Go-Getters 4-H Club (Livingston County) – Landscape Mildred Litton Community Center.
• Wheeling Happy Harvesters 4-H Club (Livingston County) – Add picnic tables to the community park.
• Atlanta FFA & Macon FFA (Macon County) – Purchase new cattle scales for Macon County Fairgrounds.
• Home Pioneer 4-H Club (Macon County) – Landscape Atlanta City Park.
• Macon Easy Riders 4-H Club (Macon County) – Plant new trees at Macon County Fairgrounds.
• Stockmasters 4-H Club (Maries County) – Expand small animal building at the county fairgrounds.
• Vienna FFA (Maries County) – Expand the hog building at the county fairgrounds.
• Pine Evershine 4-H Club (Mercer County) – Purchase and install a shade cloth for the livestock barn at the county fairgrounds.
• High Point Shamrock 4-H Club (Moniteau County) – Replace flags for community display.
• Paris Patriots (Monroe County) – Infrastructure improvements at 4-H Camp Si Coburn.
• Bellflower Boosters 4-H (Montgomery County) – Paint buildings at local park.
• Jonesburg Kountry Kids (Montgomery County) – Add a baby changing stations to restrooms at Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
• 102 River Hounds 4-H Club (Nodaway County) – Landscape the county fairgrounds.
• Jefferson 4-H Club & South Nodaway FFA Chapter (Nodaway County) – Update City of Barnard welcome sign.
• Linn Happy Helpers (Osage County) – Add benches to McGuire Park.
• Rich Fountain 4-H Club (Osage County) – Add an outdoor bench at the playground.
• Smiling Workers 4-H Club (Osage County) – Update flowerbeds at Morrison Community Center.
• Bourbeuse Valley 4-H (Phelps County) – Purchase a new swine scale for use at the local fair.
• West Platte FFA (Platte County) – Introducing ag literacy to elementary school students.
• Eudora 4-H (Polk County) – Support projects at Polk County Fair.
• Fair Play Hornets (Polk County) – Build picnic tables for the school’s outdoor classroom.
• PHMS Pirates (Polk County) – Install two free food pantries near two community schools.
• Walnut Grove 4-H Clubs (Polk County) – Improve handicap accessible playground equipment.
• Woodland 4-H Club (Polk County) – Provide hands-on learning to young children about agriculture.
• Lucerne 4-H Club (Putnam County) – Build picnic tables for the county fairgrounds.
• Brice Happy Helpers (Ralls County) – Install raised beds at school for a community garden.
• Lawson 4-H Club (Ray County) – Create a raised garden bed at the local nursing home.
• Farmington Farmers 4-H Club (Saint Francois County) – Create a fishing area at local city park.
• Farmington FFA (Saint Francois County) – Install hinges on sheep and goat pen gates at fairgrounds.
• Ste. Genevieve Small Animal 4-H Club (Sainte Genevieve County) – Assist in improving drainage at county fairgrounds.
• Glenwood Whistle Stop 4-H Club (Schuyler County) – Improve food stand at community park.
• Heartland 4-H Club, Lentner Pioneer 4-H Club & Prairie 4-H Club (Shelby County) – Purchase new tables, chair and a rack for the Shelby County Fairgrounds.
• Leonard Caring Clovers 4-H Club (Shelby County) – Refurbish wheelchair ramp on grandstand at Shelby County Fairgrounds.
• Winigan 4-H Club (Sullivan County) – Make improvements to the food stand windows and floor.
• Green City Workers 4-H Club (Sullivan County) – Install welcome sign in Green City.
• Green City FFA Chapter (Sullivan County) – Build benches for the trap shooting range.
• Green Hills 4-H Club (Sullivan County) – Landscape the Sullivan County Fairgrounds.
• Top Hands (Sullivan County) – Replant community flowerpots.
• Milo-Oakdale 4-H Club (Vernon County) – Assist in restroom renovations.
• Big Creek 4-H Club (Warren County) – Landscape and mulch Tribute to Veterans Memorial.
• Cornerstone 4-H (Warren County) - Landscape Wesley Smith Chapel where the 4-H group meets.
• Daniel Boone Afterschool 4-H Club (Warren County) – Grow plants for local nursing homes.
• Elkhorn 4-H Club (Warren County) – Install weatherproof screen boxes at local fairgrounds.
• Prairie View 4-H Club (Warren County) – Enhance ag literacy of elementary students.
• Rolling Stones 4-H Club (Warren County) – Assist in kitchen renovations of the community building.
• Warren County 4-H Leadership Project Group (Warren County) – Assist in deliveries for county Senior Nutrition Project.
• Warren County Teen Leaders (Warren County) – Assist in providing nutritional education to local youth organizations.
• Warren County After School Clover Kids (Warren County) – Provide hands on community service projects.
• Warren County Gardening Project Group (Warren County) – Assist in renovating garden beds so they are handicap accessible at local park.
• Warrior Ridge After School 4-H Club (Warren County) - Provide ag literacy activities for elementary school children.
• Potosi FFA Chapter, Caledonia Country Kids, Latty Route Go Getters & Potosi Wranglers 4-H Clubs (Washington County) – Install fans in livestock barn at county fairgrounds.
• Allendale Arrows 4-H Club (Worth County) – Add flowers and mulch to landscaping at local park.
• Mountain Grove Schools 4-H Club (Wright County) – Grow a community garden and donate the produce to local food bank.

The 2026 Shaping Rural Missouri Grant application will be available online on January 1, 2026.