Growing communities with farmers

Apparently, local farmers are allowed to nominate local clubs and groups to win $2500 grants from American Farmers Grow Communities.   The North Osage 4-H club was nominated by local farmer Dale Urish.  This means the kid's 4-H club was awarded a nice donation.  Monday night their club all got together for some photos to send with our thank you note.  

The kids were then awarded their money during a ceremony at the Farm Show in Topeka.  Several of us let our kids skip a couple hours of school this morning to have their 5 minutes of fame and collect their check.  The news was even there....so now they feel like they are royalty.  

This award is apparently given out in all Kansas counties if you buy seed or feed from a certain company.   They gave away 14 grants this morning.  Above are the winners, who select a service organization to give their money to.  

And these photos are of the kids with Dale, who selected their club to receive the money.  

Of course, if you take kids to the farm show, after letting them skip school, it is also required that you look around.  Oh....and enter drawings to win 4 wheelers.  

We couldn't possibly get a big award and get on TV and then not stop off for lunch.  That would be a crime.  

Just for fun I am also including a list of things I learned while attending the farm show. 

1.  Super cab trucks tricked out with huge mirrors and ball hitches do not fit in the alotted parking spaces at the Kansas Expocentre.  

2. Farmers attending the farm show do not care that their trucks do not fit, just feel free to park anywhere. 

3. Men wearing overalls and looking at tools are not going to move over so you can walk through. 

4.  Seed dealers all set out bowls of candy.  Since they glare at the children taking said candy, I am not sure who the candy is for. 

5.  Old farmers and school aged children are equally happy with getting scads of free stuff.  

6. The free stuff ends up on the floor of the van at the first mention of McDonald's food. 

7.  And last but definitely not least......letting your children play around on farm equipment that costs more than your house is nerve wracking.  Watching them interact with dreaming and drooling farm guys was worth the stomach ache though.