Kosciusko County Farmer Wins $2,500 For Mentone Fire Dept.
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
MENTONE – A donation to the Mentone Fire Dept. may help them save the lives of anyone trapped in a grain bin in the future. Melissa Wise was selected as a winner in America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. She selected the Mentone Fire Dept. to receive the $2,500 donation in Kosciusko County. Thursday evening, a check presentation ceremony was held at the fire department. America’s Farmers Grow Communities works directly with farmers to support non-profit organizations doing important work in rural communities, according to a press release provided. The program encourages farmers to enter to win $2,500, which is then directed to the farmer’s non-profit of choice. “Every community needs a fire department so we wanted to support them. They do a lot for the community so we wanted to give back,” Wise said about why she chose the MFD. Fire Chief Mike Yazel said the prize donation will be used to purchase a grain rescue tube. The tube will allow the MFD to facilitate a rescue from a grain bin if someone gets caught in one. When a person gets trapped in a grain bin, the grain presses against the victim. Each section of the tube acts as a shield so that the grain can be removed. Once the grain level is lowered, the victim can be extricated, Assistant Fire Chief Jim Eads explained. Yazel said the bigger the grain bins, the more situations can happen where people can get trapped in them. Launched nationally in 2011, the Grow Communities program has grown to include 1,289 counties in 39 states. The Grow Communities is part of the America’s Farmers initiative, which highlights the important contributions farmers make every day to society, according to the press release. Daniel Stauffer, district sales manager, Specialty Hybrid with Monsanto, said, “One farmer in every agriculture county gets drawn to give to a non-profit group in their rural group. ... One farmer’s name in each county is drawn.” He said Monsanto awards the money because it’s a way to give back to their customers who live in agricultural communities. The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work, according to the release. For more information about the Monsanto Fund, visit www.monsantofund.org For a complete list of Grow Communities winners and more program information, visit growcommunities.com To learn more about America’s Farmers, visit www.americasfarmers.com
