MKC Donates to Kansas County 4-H Programs
Dec 05, 2019
In 2019, MKC contributed $51,500 to Kansas 4-H programs to support leadership development events for young 4-H members in 19 counties. This year marks the 14th consecutive year for donations made to 4-H programs within the MKC footprint.
“This is a great opportunity for us to assist local 4-H organizations that play such a positive role in the lives of so many young people within our trade territory,” says Dave Christiansen, MKC president and CEO. “It is exciting to think those same youth will be the future leaders of our communities.”
Funds totaling more than $175,000 have been donated to 4-H since 2006 with matched contributions from the Land O’ Lakes, Inc. Foundation.
This year, MKC made donations to Butler, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morris, Pottawatomie, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Seward, Sumner and Wabaunsee counties.
From the Counties
“Butler County 4-H is blessed by this donation from MKC,” says McKenzie Smithson, Butler County 4-H extension agent. “The funds will help provide many opportunities for positive youth development for our county 4-Hers. With these funds we will be able to help provide opportunities to attend leadership training at state 4-H events like Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Citizens in Action at the State House, and local trainings on community service with our local 4-H clubs. Our goal in Butler County 4-H is to provide a growth model of experiential learning to help develop lifelong learners and civically engaged citizens for the 21st century.”
"Reno County 4-H is so grateful for the donation from MKC,” says Joan Krumme, Reno County extension agent. “Leadership is one of the foundation blocks that 4-H is built on. We are confident that the youth that go through the 4-H program approach their lives with the skills necessary to be competent, caring and contributing citizens. MKC's donation will allow Reno County 4-H to provide youth leadership training and experiences needed to ensure this. The donation not only allows us to provide scholarships to 4-H camps and leadership events, it also gives us an opportunity to move forward with leadership programs here in Reno County that will impact the local community.”
“MKC's generous donation will enhance the Dickinson County 4-H Foundation's ability to assist young people in attending state and regional leadership opportunities such as the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Discovery Days, and the Northeast Leadership Event, in addition to supporting the Foundation's efforts to make 4-H camp an affordable option for all Dickinson County 4-H members,” says Jill Martinson, Dickinson County extension agent.
“This phenomenal grant is priceless for Rice County 4-H,” says Wendy Hughes, Rice County extension director. “With Rice County being among the poorest counties it gives extreme possibilities for our youth to grow. We have five youth signed up to attend Kansas Youth Leadership Forum at Rock Springs and had six youth attend Citizenship in Action in Topeka, learning about the way our government runs. It also pays for camp counselor training and helps youth attend various other leadership events. We thank MKC for relieving the financial burden for these members.”
“This is a great opportunity for us to assist local 4-H organizations that play such a positive role in the lives of so many young people within our trade territory,” says Dave Christiansen, MKC president and CEO. “It is exciting to think those same youth will be the future leaders of our communities.”
Funds totaling more than $175,000 have been donated to 4-H since 2006 with matched contributions from the Land O’ Lakes, Inc. Foundation.
This year, MKC made donations to Butler, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morris, Pottawatomie, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Seward, Sumner and Wabaunsee counties.
From the Counties
“Butler County 4-H is blessed by this donation from MKC,” says McKenzie Smithson, Butler County 4-H extension agent. “The funds will help provide many opportunities for positive youth development for our county 4-Hers. With these funds we will be able to help provide opportunities to attend leadership training at state 4-H events like Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Citizens in Action at the State House, and local trainings on community service with our local 4-H clubs. Our goal in Butler County 4-H is to provide a growth model of experiential learning to help develop lifelong learners and civically engaged citizens for the 21st century.”
"Reno County 4-H is so grateful for the donation from MKC,” says Joan Krumme, Reno County extension agent. “Leadership is one of the foundation blocks that 4-H is built on. We are confident that the youth that go through the 4-H program approach their lives with the skills necessary to be competent, caring and contributing citizens. MKC's donation will allow Reno County 4-H to provide youth leadership training and experiences needed to ensure this. The donation not only allows us to provide scholarships to 4-H camps and leadership events, it also gives us an opportunity to move forward with leadership programs here in Reno County that will impact the local community.”
“MKC's generous donation will enhance the Dickinson County 4-H Foundation's ability to assist young people in attending state and regional leadership opportunities such as the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Discovery Days, and the Northeast Leadership Event, in addition to supporting the Foundation's efforts to make 4-H camp an affordable option for all Dickinson County 4-H members,” says Jill Martinson, Dickinson County extension agent.
“This phenomenal grant is priceless for Rice County 4-H,” says Wendy Hughes, Rice County extension director. “With Rice County being among the poorest counties it gives extreme possibilities for our youth to grow. We have five youth signed up to attend Kansas Youth Leadership Forum at Rock Springs and had six youth attend Citizenship in Action in Topeka, learning about the way our government runs. It also pays for camp counselor training and helps youth attend various other leadership events. We thank MKC for relieving the financial burden for these members.”