JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. –Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that 20 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2025 Building Our American Communities grant program. Eleven local chapters of the National FFA Organization and nine Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year.
“I applaud each of these groups for their work to improve their communities,” said Director Chinn. “We are proud to support these efforts and to have a small part in projects across the state. This program is just one example of the leadership and commitment to service young people learn through FFA and 4-H.”
Each of the 2025 awardees will receive $500 toward their projects, which may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings, such as fairgrounds, parks or community centers used by local organizations. The 2025 grant recipients are:
FFA Chapters
- West Platte FFA Chapter, Weston (Platte County)
- Centralia FFA Chapter, Centralia (Boone County)
- Ashland FFA Chapter, Ashland (Boone County)
- Hartville FFA Chapter, Hartville (Wright County)
- Aurora FFA Chapter, Aurora (Lawrence County)
- Genevieve FFA Chapter, Ste. Genevieve (Ste. Genevieve County)
- Fredericktown FFA Chapter, Fredericktown (Madison County)
- Hermann FFA Chapter, Hermann (Gasconade County)
- Owensville FFA Chapter, Owensville (Gasconade County)
- Versailles FFA Chapter, Versailles (Morgan County)
- California FFA Chapter, California (Moniteau County)
4-H Clubs
- Rising Stars 4-H Club, Amity (DeKalb County)
- Colony 4-H Club, Edina (Knox County)
- Pershing’s Pride 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)
- Genevieve Small Animal 4-H Club, Perryville (Ste. Genevieve)
- Patton 4-H Club, Marquand (Bollinger County)
- Jeffriesburg 4-H Club, Beaufort (Franklin County)
- Bay Community 4-H Club, Hermann (Gasconade County)
- Kountry Kids 4-H Club, Versailles (Morgan County)
- Show Me 4-H Club, California (Moniteau County)
The Building Our American Communities program has been supporting youth projects since the 1970s. Each year, youth organizations throughout Missouri submit proposals for consideration for the grants that support specific projects within each community. The grants are funded through Missouri’s Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA.
4-H clubs and FFA chapters awarded grants this year must complete their projects no later than August 1, 2025.
For more information on the department and its programs, visit agriculture.mo.gov.