San Joaquin Memorial High School FFA Awarded $2,500

San Joaquin Memorial High School’s FFA (Future Farmers of America) program has been awarded $2,500 as part of America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program, sponsored by Bayer Fund. The program partners with farmers to provide grants to local nonprofits to help their communities. Through the program, farmers enroll for the chance to direct a $2,500 donation to a local eligible nonprofit organization of their choice. The Carvalho family, whose son Emilio is a current Memorial student, nominated SJM.
 
“I feel honored and excited to see this community support for this program and happy to be able to pass on what I learned in high school as a member of FFA,” said Amanda Bailey, FFA Advisor and Science instructor at SJM.
 
The funds will go toward kickstarting the FFA program at SJM and procuring materials and uniforms for the chapter. 
 
“It’s an honor to be selected as a Fresno County Winner,” said Nino and Kandi Carvalho, who won the award and decided to direct the funds toward Memorial FFA. “Nino Carvalho himself was a product of the FFA program in Tranquillity, CA. Our daughter went through the FFA program in Kerman. Now, it’s an honor to give back to the SJM budding FFA program. As an agricultural based family, our son, Emilio Carvalho, has taken every Ag based class that SJM offers. He is set to take the newly formatted Ag Chemistry class for the 2021-2022 school year. It’s an honor to watch the SJM family benefit from the small gift. We hope the SJM FFA program can grow into a large school wide participation.”
 
Since 2010, the America’s Farmers programs have awarded more than $59 million to nonprofits, aspiring ag students and public schools across rural America. Farmers are leaders in their communities, which is why America’s Farmers programs rely on them to help identify the most worthy causes.
 
Dedicated to making a difference in rural farming communities, the Grow Communities program asks farmers across the country to participate by nominating nonprofit organizations with resources to strengthen their local communities. Last August, farmers entered for the chance to direct a $2,500 Grow Communities donation to a local eligible nonprofit of their choice. Farmers have directed donations to food banks, emergency response organizations, schools, youth agriculture programs and many others that reflect the spirit and support the vibrancy of rural America.
 
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, including those in rural regions, and farmers play a critical role in helping communities overcome challenges, like the ones we’re currently facing” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund president. “Bayer Fund is proud to work side-by-side with farmers to identify local eligible nonprofit organizations that are able to provide their residents with solutions that leave a lasting impact.”
 
To learn more about how America’s Farmers programs are making an impact, visit www.AmericasFarmers.com.
 
About Bayer Fund
Bayer Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education and community development projects.