Ag Discovery Fueled by Monsanto Grant

Earth Partners Director Sarah Kaper (left) and Earth Partners Chairman Chris Karr (right) receive a check for $8,000 from Stacy Acton (center) at a recent meeting of the CCFB Foundation Board of Directors. Acton, an agronomic research specialist with Monsanto’s Thomasboro, IL facility presented the check on behalf of the Monsanto Fund.

This grant will be used to fund the Foundation’s Ag Discovery program which encourages students to pursue agricultural careers. Through Ag Discovery junior high and high school students from Champaign Unit 4 and Unity High School explore various agricultural careers and hear from industry representatives to determine the career that most aligns with individual student skills and interest. The program is complete with a tour of the many disciplines offered at the University of Illinois College of ACES.

The Ag Discovery Program is a partnership between the CCFB Foundation’s Earth Partners program and the University of Illinois Extension’s Champaign office. The program is funded, in large part, through the Monsanto Fund.

CCFB Foundation Director Kirk Builta says “This grant allows the Foundation to expand its mission of education and encourages student leaders to pursue the wide world of agriculture”.