Westminster, MD – (May 30, 2019) – The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement announces a $100,000 commitment to partner with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) over 2019, 2020, and 2021. The donations will benefit various programs hosted by UMES, including the World Food Prize – MD Youth Institute, Maryland FFA State Convention, Maryland Agricultural Teacher’s Association (MATA) Conference, and Junior MANRRS Leadership Institute.
“The School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at UMES plays such a crucial role in preparing the next generation of agriculture advocates,” says Dale Hershey, Chairman of the Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement. “The Foundation is proud to provide assistance to launch these valuable programs to educate students and continue to grow the other side of ag.”
Staying true to its mission, the Foundation donated more than $40,000 in 2018 to agriculture education programs in MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s footprint. In addition to these donations, the Foundation also gave away five $2,500 scholarships to agriculture teachers last year and eighteen $10,000 scholarships to students studying agriculture this year.
“Farm Credit has always been a fantastic partner for UMES,” says Karl Binns, Lead Development Officer for the UMES School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. “This financial commitment will enable us to launch scholar programs for students involved in MANRRS, World Food Prize, MATA and FFA. UMES has made a commitment to being a hub for developing the next generation of talent in food and agricultural science.”
The non-profit Foundation was established in 2015 and is funded by participating association MidAtlantic Farm Credit. For more information about the Foundation and its scholarship programs, please visit fcfoundationforag.org.
To learn more about the agriculture programs offered at UMES, visit umes.edu/sans.
About Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement
The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is a $3M non-profit foundation formed in 2015, created to help advance the future of agriculture. The Foundation’s scholarship program is open to all students residing in MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s five-state territory who fit the eligibility requirements. The scholarship program was announced as part of Farm Credit’s 100th anniversary, held in 2016.
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Jenny Kreisher, jkreishner@mafc.com, 888-339-3334
