America's Farmers Grow Communities: Growing Rural America One Community at a Time

Rural communities are important to U.S. farmers. They give them a place to call home, a place to meet with friends for breakfast, a place to raise families. And now, thanks to the Monsanto Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, farmers across the U.S. are giving back to their communities.

America’s Farmers Grow Communities allows growers to enter for a chance to win $2,500 for their favorite nonprofit community groups, such as youth organizations, schools and other civic groups important to America’s farmers. The winners are randomly selected by the Monsanto Fund annually, and there is one winner in each eligible county.



History of the Program

Monsanto Company started the program with a pilot in 2009. The following year, the Monsanto Fund began sponsoring the program with a second pilot. These first two pilots provided nearly $1.2 million to farmers in 10 U.S. states.

The second pilot alone benefited 298 organizations, with 35 percent of the awards going to agriculture youth groups, 24 percent directed toward community organizations such as food banks, and 15 percent donated to various educational programs.

With the success of the first two pilots, the Monsanto Fund program expanded in 2010 and expects to contribute more than $3 million in approximately 1,200 counties across 38 states.


Hear the Stories of the Winners and Their Communities

The numbers tell a story – but not one nearly as good as those the winners and their communities can share. Watch their stories, see the impact farmers are making in their local communities – and think about how $2,500 could help your community next year.



To learn more about the program, or to watch more stories, visit www.growcommunities.com.