Three Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) regional offices recently made gifts totaling near $3,000 to local county fairs. The donations are part of the financial cooperative’s ongoing support of rural communities and agriculture. In 2016, FCI invested more than $245,000 in youth, community, and ag literacy initiatives throughout its 60-county marketplace. 

Above from L to R: Back Row: Jackson Lashmett (Scott County Fair Vice President), Chaz Walker, Blake Clayton, Millie Lashmett, Jessica Freeman (Farm Credit Illinois), Kacie McCleery, Brayden Freeman; Front Row: Keira Dahman, Jackie Lashmett, Braylee Littig, Oz Walker

Jacksonville

The FCI Jacksonville regional office recently made a $750 gift to the Scott County Fair. The funds will provide improvements to the Scott County Junior Fair’s livestock wash racks, making them safer and more effective for the 4-H members using them.

Mt. Vernon & Red Bud

The FCI Mt. Vernon and Red Bud regional offices recently awarded $1,500 to Perry County University of Illinois Extension. The joint funds will provide a new livestock scale for the Perry County 4-H Fair. The Mt. Vernon and Red Bud regional offices annually support Extension initiatives which further agricultural and youth development in rural communities.

Above from L to R: Cindy Bauman (Franklin County
4-H program coordinator), Robby Gilliam (FCI, Mt. Vernon)

The Mt. Vernon regional office also awarded almost $700 to the Franklin County University of Illinois Extension to provide the funding for new paint for the 4-H Barn at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.