FCS Financial Awards More than 100 Community Improvement Grants to 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters in 2024

Beautifying county fairgrounds, painting bleachers and picnic tables, and community park improvements are a few of the community projects that 4-H and FFA youth will be doing this summer as recipients of a Shaping Rural Missouri Grant from FCS Financial. One hundred and one (101) 4-H clubs and FFA chapters received a $500 Shaping Rural Missouri Grant to complete a community improvement project in their local area.

This is the thirteenth year FCS Financial awarded the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant. More than $300,000 has been distributed in rural Missouri through the program.

“It’s exciting to see the record number of grant applications this year,” said Rob Guinn, FCS Financial CEO. “These grants allow 4-H and FFA members to work as a team to enhance their local Missouri communities and build skills that will help them in the future.”

In 2024, FCS Financial awarded the following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters a Shaping Rural Missouri Grant in support of implementing the project listed:

• City Clovers 4-H Club (Barton County) – Landscape Lamar Memorial Park.
• Rich Hill FFA Chapter (Bates County) – Landscape historical display in Rich Hill.
• Countyline 4-H Club (Bates County) – Develop a garden and picnic table for the Seed n Sprouts program.
• Achievers 4-H Club & Polo Trailblazers 4-H Club (Caldwell County) – Landscape new Caldwell County library.
• Callaway County 4-H Teen Leaders (Callaway County) – Strip and paint the fence around the show arena at Callaway County Expo fairgrounds.
• Bosworth Fireballs 4-H Club (Carroll County) – Make building improvements and build storage at Carroll County Youth Building.
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Carroll County) – Install a new sound system at fairgrounds.
• Lucky Clover 4-H Club (Cass County) – Build a rock garden & install plants at local youth ballfield.
• Antioch 4-H Club (Clark County) – Install a Free Little Library for local residents.
• Russellville FFA Chapter (Cole County) – Landscape around school and greenhouse.
• Family Fun 4-H Club (Cooper County) – Landscape around the Cooper County Fairgrounds
• Lake Springs 4-H Club (Dent County) – Building repairs and landscaping at Lake Spring Community Building
• Jeffriesburg 4-H Club (Franklin County) – Clean tombstones at local cemetery.
• Campbellton Livestock 4-H Club (Franklin County) – Landscape rural fire station.
• Washington Middle School Junior FFA (Franklin County) – provide floral needs for rural community.
• Shooting Stars 4-H Club (Greene County) – Install a community garden to support local food pantry.
• Gilman City FFA Chapter (Harrison County) – Build and improve wash rack at local fairgrounds.
• Montrose Busy Beavers 4-H Club (Henry County) – Install landscaping to the front of the Montrose R-XIV School.
• Willow Springs FFA Chapter (Howell County) – Provide a landscape plan for drainage and flowers for the entry of the Willow Springs High School.
• Iron 4-H Club (Iron County) – Build pens and gates at local fairgrounds.
• Viburnum Blue Jays 4-H Club (Iron County) – Build a community garden at the Viburnum City Park.
• Classy Clovers 4-H Club (Jackson County) – Provide maintenance to existing landscaping and plant a Victory Garden in downtown Blue Springs.
• STA at Paradise Park FFA Chapter (Jackson County) – Build, maintain and educate the community about bluebirds in the area.
• Pleasant Valley Pioneers 4-H Club (Jasper County) – Landscape the Jasper County Youth Fairgrounds.
• Country Kickers 4-H Club (Jasper County) – Plant trees in rural community.
• Colony 4-H Club (Knox County) – Build bleachers for the Knox County 4-H and FFA Fairgrounds.
• County Liners 4-H Club (Knox County) – Plant flowers at the Knox County Nursing Home for residents to enjoy.
• 40-Ville 4-H Club (Lafayette County) – Provide CPR training and certification to 4-H members, their families and community.
• Hitt 4-H Club (Lafayette County) – Improve and landscape the Corder City Park.
• Santa Fe FFA Chapter (Lafayette County) – Reconstruct the Alma community welcome sign.
• Mount Vernon FFA Chapter (Lawrence County) – Improve organization and storage at community building at Lawrence County Fairgrounds.
• Solid Rock 4-H Club (Lawrence County) – Provide enhancements to the Vernona Park.
• Monticello 4-H Club, Pleasant Grove 4-H Club, Oyster Prairie 4-H Club, Walnut Grover 4-H Club and Ten Mile 4-H Club (Lewis County) – Build pens for small livestock projects at Lewis County Fairgrounds.
• Canton FFA Chapter & Lewis County C-1 FFA Chapter (Lewis County) – Upgrade pens and gates at Lewis County Fairgrounds.
• Home Pioneer 4-H Club (Macon County) – Install a sound system in the City Park.
• Fredericktown Farmers 4-H Club (Madison County) – Landscape, mulch and clean historical park in Marquand.
• Stockmasters 4-H Club (Maries County) – Plant trees, install shade cloth and fans in livestock barn.
• Taylor 4-H Club (Marion County) – Install and build Little Free Library in community.
• Circle A 4-H Club (Miller County) – Build an awning to cover picnic tables at the community splash pad.
• Montgomery County R-2 FFA Chapter (Montgomery County) – Install fans in 4-H Building at Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
• Jefferson 4-H Club (Nodaway County) – Install and plant flower bed around the welcome sign in Conception.
• Graham 4-H Club (Nodaway County) – Paint the exterior of the Graham Community Building.
• Northwest Tech FFA Chapter, 102 River Hounds 4-H Club, Busy Bee 4-H Club, Jefferson FFA Chapter, North Nodaway 4-H Club, North Nodaway FFA Chapter and South Nodaway FFA Chapter (Nodaway County) – Renovate the wash racks at the Nodaway County Fairgrounds.
• Oregon County 4-H (Oregon County) – Rehabilitate the Thayer community garden.
• Vanguard 4-H Club (Perry County) – Landscape community senior center.
• Cowboy’s and Angel’s 4-H Club (Perry County) – Paint arena fence, announcers stand and bleachers at Perry County Saddle Club Fairgrounds.
• Bourbeuse Valley 4-H Club (Phelps County) – Build a new picnic table and repair existing ones at local fairgrounds.
• Pleasant Workers 4-H Club (Pike County) – Replace and repair benches at community park.
• North Platte FFA Chapter (Platte County) – Renovate and maintain local rain garden at Camden Point Park.
• Woodland 4-H Club (Polk County) – Build wheelchair access ramp into local community building.
• Sunshine Kids 4-H Club (Putnam County) – Repaint the interior of the Art Building at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.
• Guys and Gals 4-H Club (Ray County) – Repair restrooms at Ray County Fairgrounds.
• Lawson 4-H Club (Ray County) – Install dog waste stations at Lake Trail to improve experience for all users.
• Clever Clover 4-H Club, Dale Patton 4-H Club, Millville 4-H Club, Olde Tyme 4-H Club and Richmond FFA Chapter (Ray County) – Update electrical needs in livestock barn at Ray County Fairgrounds.
• Work-to-Win 4-H Club (Saline County) – Install new lighting in the cattle barn at the fairgrounds.
• Glenwood Whistle Stop 4-H Club (Schuyler County) – Landscape and light local flagpole.
• Gorin Go Getters 4-H Club (Scotland County) – Install handicap parking to allow for more accessibility at local fairgrounds.
• Jolly Jacks and Jills 4-H Club (Scotland County) – Paint the display shelves and stage in the Art Hall at the Scotland County Fairgrounds.
• Prairie 4-H Club, Lucky Charms 4-H Club, Leonard Caring Clovers 4-H Club and Lentner Pioneer 4-H Club (Shelby County) – Provide new mulch under play equipment at Kessler Park.
• Winigan 4-H Club (Sullivan County) – Build panels and gates in show barn at local community fairgrounds.
• Green City Workers 4-H Club (Sullivan County) – Expand education on embryology in local community.
• Sullivan County 4-H Shooting Sports (Sullivan County) – Purchase targets and improve shooting range for county 4-H program.
• Taney County Trailblazers (Taney County) – Provide potted plants to elderly residents in their community.
• Bronaugh 4-H Club, Clayton 4-H Club and West Point 4-H Club (Vernon County) – Transform shipping container into a storage facility for local 4-H supplies.
• Rinehart 4-H Club (Vernon County) – Build picnic tables and benches for use at Rinehart Christian Church during community events.
• Lone Star 4-H Club, Timberline 4-H Club and Walker 4-H Club (Vernon County) – Make updates and improvements to the concession stand at Vernon County Fairgrounds.
• Vernon County 4-H Shooting Sports (Vernon County) – Build a trophy case to display participant awards.
• County Line 4-H Club (Warren County) – Landscape flowerbeds, entrance and clean playground equipment at Central Grove United Methodist Church.
• Big Creek 4-H Club (Warren County) – Landscape around the Charters of Freedom display at local Veterans Memorial site.
• Daniel Boone Afterschool 4-H Club (Warren County) – Create activity bags for the Warren County Pathfinders Residential Program residents.
• Warren County Teen Leaders (Warren County) – Work with local youth through program development.
• Country Crossroads 4-H Club (Warren County) – Build additional garden beds in the Truesdale Community Garden.
• Elkhorn 4-H Club (Warren County) – Build portable stanchions to control traffic flow at Warren County Fair.
• Cornerstone 4-H Club (Warren County) – Build raised garden beds at Sheltered Workshop for residents to utilize.
• Prairie View 4-H Club (Warren County) – Install fans in livestock arena at Warren County Fairgrounds.
• Potosi FFA Chapter (Washington County) – Build raised garden beds that will be planted during summer school by local students.
• Allendale Arrows 4-H Club (Worth County) – Landscape two community signs in Allendale.
• Mountain Grove Schools 4-H Club (Wright County) – Build and install a community garden at the school so students can grow and provide produce to local nursing homes and food pantries.

The 2025 Shaping Rural Missouri Grant application will be available online on January 1, 2025.