Farm Credit of the Virginias Awards $130,000 in Grant Funding Through Charitable Contributions Fund

https://www.morningagclips.com/farm-credit-of-the-virginias-awards-130000-in-grant-funding-through-charitable-contributions-fund/

ROANOAKE, Va. — Farm Credit of the Virginias (FCV), a lending cooperative that serves Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, announced the Association would award more than $130,000 in funding to eligible charitable organizations through the Farm Credit of the Virginias’ Charitable Contributions Fund grant program. The following applicants were awarded grant funding to support their efforts:

• Appalachian Farm and Food Alliance (Garrett County, Md.) – Support for farm-to-school initiative serving Allegany and Garrett County schools

• Augusta Health (Augusta County, Va.) – Purchase of equipment for on-site farm, supporting food as medicine initiative

• Buena Vista Community Garden (Rockbridge County, Va.) – Improved infrastructure for community garden

• Common Grain Alliance (Virginia) – Increase awareness and demand for regionally grown grains through consumer education and market development initiative

• Fauquier and Rappahannock 4-H (Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties, Va.) – Support for hands-on youth gardening program, “Ready, Set, Grow”

• George Washington Carver Agricultural Research Center (Culpeper County, Va.) – Partner with local farmers and school nutrition programs to develop value-added food products that strengthen regional agriculture

• Gilmer County Farm Show (Gilmer County, W. Va.) – Improved infrastructure for youth agricultural building

• Monongalia County Fair Association (Monongalia County, W. Va.) – Construction of livestock barn for youth agricultural fair

• Pocahontas County 4-H Foundation (Pocahontas County, W. Va.) – Improved infrastructure for youth 4-H building

• Randolph County Fair Corporation (Randolph County, W. Va.) – Purchase of outdoor, audiovisual system for youth agricultural building

• Society of Saint Andrew (Bedford County, Va.) – Support for local gleaning program, “Harvest of Hope”

• Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center (Washington County, Va.) – Support for “AgVentures,” a hands-on program connecting youth to agriculture, natural resources and local food systems

• Virginia Cooperative Extension – Food Producer Technical Assistance Network (Montgomery County, Va.) – Support for value-added agricultural products through producer education

• Virginia Cooperative Extension – Roanoke (Roanoke County, Va.) – Development of a hands-on embryology program for youth

• Work Skills Training Center for Youth (Rockbridge County, Va.) – Support for immersive agricultural curriculum for local youth, including indoor hydroponics and outdoor garden

• West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition (West Virginia) – Provide farmer-led education, coordinated bulk purchasing, individualized technical assistance and more to help strengthen local food systems

FCV’s Charitable Contributions Fund grant program was established in 2022 to enable the Association to engage with and build stronger partnerships with organizations that aid farmers and families in their rural communities. The program offers up to $10,000 grant opportunities for eligible organizations that serve the Association’s 96-county territory and align with FCV’s mission. Grant applications for this funding cycle were accepted May 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026, in which 74 eligible applications requesting more than $640,000 were received and reviewed.

“Our members live, work and raise their families in the same communities that will be supported by these grants,” said Kevin Craun, Chair of the Board of Directors for Farm Credit of the Virginias. “That connection makes programs like the Charitable Contributions Fund especially meaningful. We are honored to support organizations that are creating opportunities and addressing challenges in the agriculture industry, while strengthening the fabric of rural communities across our territory.”

“As a cooperative, one of our guiding principles is ‘Concern for Community,’ and we are proud to support organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the rural communities we serve,” said Pete Cypret, CEO of Farm Credit of the Virginias. “Through our Charitable Contributions Fund grant program, we are investing in programs and initiatives that strengthen communities, advance agriculture, improve quality of life and create opportunities for future generations. This year’s grant recipients embody the spirit of service and community stewardship and we are proud to invest in these organizations and the lasting impacts they will have.”

Interested organizations are encouraged to visit our website and follow our social media channels for timely updates related to the Charitable Contributions Fund grant program and other funding opportunities. Learn more about the program on our website: FarmCreditofVirginias.com/CCF.

About Farm Credit of the Virginias 

Farm Credit of the Virginias provides over $2.5 billion dollars in financing to more than 12,500 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners throughout Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland. Farm Credit is a cooperative capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural homeowners and businesses that borrow from them. In fact, as part of a nationwide network they are the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States and have been for over 100 years. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and for facilitating and sharing knowledge and resources through the Farm Credit Knowledge Center. For more information, visit www.farmcreditofvirginias.com.

— Farm Credit of the Virginias