Farm Credit Foundation Partners with UMES

From left, David Balcom, Brian Rosati, Ebony Jenkins, Walt Hopkins, Anthony Washington, Cheryl Steinbacher, Diamond Nwaeze, Dr. Heidi Anderson, Karl Binns, Jr., and Thomas Truitt.

The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement committed $100,000 to collaborate with UMES on programs over a 3-year period, 2019-2021. The funds will benefit the World Food Prize—MD Youth Institute, the Maryland Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention, the Maryland Agricultural Teachers Association (MATA) Conference, and the 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,” said 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 2019 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.

“I am delighted with our partnership with Farm Credit and with their interest in developing talent to serve the agrifood industry,” said Dr. Moses Kairo, dean of the School and Agricultural and Natural Sciences. “For the sake of our students, I look forward to working more closely together in the near future.”

The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is a $3M non-profit foundation formed in 2015 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 in 2016 as part of its 100th anniversary.