Near the end of last year, area farmers Chad and Teresa Wieneke received a postcard in the mail from the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” program through the Monsanto Fund. The Grow Communities program’s purpose is to make a positive impact in farm communities by partnering with farmers to support the causes that are important to them in their communities. Each year, farmers enter for a chance to win a $2,500 donation that they direct to a local nonprofit.
When the Wienekes read the postcard, they decided that they would fill it out and send it in, and were not required, at that time, to select a non-profit of their choice. “I received a call from the America’s Farmers Grows Communities representative, and I was shocked and surprised to learn that we had won!” said Teresa. “The representative said that we needed to select a non-profit to receive the $2,500 donation” Teresa called her husband, Chad, to tell him the good news, and the two started to brainstorm. Teresa’s first thought had been to give the Adrian Branch Library the donation, but the couple agreed to wait and see what their children would suggest.
“When the kids came home from school, I told them about the phone call, and that we had to decide on an organization,” Teresa recalls, “all three unanimously said ‘the Library!’” Their children – Alysha, Grant and Addison – had recently had a 4H meeting at the Library, at which the Grand Prairie Rockets had made a donation to the Library. “When the kids said they wanted the $2,500 to go to the Library, both Alysha and Grant said, “the Library needs the money, and it will be nice to have a ‘new’ Library.”
It is not surprising that the family would think of the Library – they are regular patrons of the Library, checking out scores of books year-round. “We like to get books for AR quizzes,” explains Teresa, “there are time when I don’t have time to find the books, or I’m looking for a specific title, and the Library staff will set them aside or order them for us.”
Alysha said, “I like to go to the Library because I know there will be a good book waiting to be read. I wanted to give the money to the Library because it could use a little help with the remodeling.”
The Monsanto sponsored program began in 2010, and farmers have directed more than $26 million in donations across a broad cross-section of non-profit organizations. “Farmers have directed funds to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America since Grow Communities began,” said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund President. “Farmers are truly committed to this program because they see the difference the donation makes in their community.”
Chad and Teresa Wieneke and their children live north of Adrian and operate a 350 cow dairy farm, feed steers, and farm the land. Chad farms full-time, and Teresa assists with the field work and fills in as needed. She is a substitute para for District 511, and does seamstress work from the home. The children are active in many activities, including 4H. All three children attend school in Adrian, in the Fall Alysha will be in High School, Grant in Middle School, and Addison in Elementary School.
On Father’s Day, the entire family stopped outside of the Adrian Branch Library to take a photo with the sign sent from Monsanto, advertising the program. There was much excitement, especially from the kids. With their support in garnering such a large donation, the Adrian Branch Library fundraiser has now garnered a total of $83,688. The Library plans to purchase a few special titles to enhance the collection. That is just fine with Addison, who said, “my favorite part of going to the Library and getting new books to read!”
For more information or to see a complete list of the 2017 America’s Farmers Grow Communities recipients, visit www.GrowCommunitiescom
