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Local dairy designates Hilmar Colony 4-H as recipient of $2,500
Monsanto Grant
Left to right, 4-H Co-Community Leader Doreen Snyder and Dorothy Martins stand with 4-H participants after the organization received a check for $2,500 from the Martins Brother Dairy furnished by the Monsanto Fund.

The Hilmar Colony 4-H Monday night meeting was a special one as the local chapter received $2,500 on behalf of the Martins Brothers Dairy furnished through the Monsanto Fund.

 Each year the Monsanto Fund sponsors the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program which enrolls farmers for a chance to gift funds to a nonprofit of their choice. This year, the Hilmar dairy Martins Brothers were selected and on Tuesday Dorothy Martins appeared before the excited 4-H participants to present the large check to the next generation of farmers and agriculturalists.

“They told me I could choose any nonprofit I wanted to and I wanted to give back to 4-H because this it is something that my kids were involved in growing up,” said Martins.

The local chapter was stunned to receive the generous donation, which will facilitate the diverse programs available to 4-H participants, as well as pay for the organization’s necessities, such as the medals that the children earn when they complete their projects.

“I was totally surprised,” said 4-H Co-Community Leader Doreen Snyder when she received the call from a Monsanto representative.

“I’m listening to her and I said, ‘Could you repeat that?’” she laughed.

Funds are predominantly used to cultivate the 4-H participants’ leadership skills by helping to send them to conferences and camps. 4-H, which includes a diverse range of activities from raising and showing animals to sewing projects, also requires educational materials towards which the money will go.

America’s Farmers Grow Communities launched in 2010 and has grown to include 1,324 eligible counties in 40 states. Other 2015 winners in California include Anneka Anderson from Kerman who donated her funds to Kerman Christian School; Chad Grieve of Imperial who donated his funds to the Human Society of Imperial County; Wilma De Jager of Bakersfield who donated her funds to Bakersfield Christian High School Future Farmers of America; Mike Pellandini of Galt who donated his funds to Liberty Ranch High School Agriculture Welding; Mike Miller of Stockton who gave his funds to Escalon FFA Parent Booster; Alain Pincot of Santa Maria who gave her funds to the Salvation Army, and more.