Barnesville Area Food Pantry, Barnesville, Minnesota, is sustaining and expanding vital programs, including its summer lunch program, school backpack program and the food pantry to ensure local families have support when they need it most.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Rural communities form the backbone of American agriculture – and when they thrive, the entire industry grows stronger. This year, ACH Seeds’ Homegrown Giving program awarded $60,000 to organizations whose projects will strengthen the very communities where sugarbeet growers live and work.
Now in its fourth year, the Homegrown Giving program supports community-led initiatives that address the needs identified by local residents, from agricultural education and youth leadership to food access and rural infrastructure. In 2025, six organizations across ACH Seeds’ growing regions received $10,000 each to expand their reach and deepen their community impact.
“Our Homegrown Giving program is rooted in the belief that strong communities grow from the ground up, led by the people and organizations who know their hometown best,” said Andy Finkral, sales leader ACH Seeds. “Each $10,000 award is more than funding; it’s an opportunity to cultivate lasting impact where it matters most. Homegrown Giving is about coming alongside these organizations to help those ideas grow.”
This year’s award recipients are putting the funds to work in remarkable ways:
- Barnesville Area Food Pantry, Barnesville, Minnesota, is sustaining and expanding vital programs, including its summer lunch program, school backpack program and the food pantry to ensure local families have support when they need it most.
- Belgrade Brooten Elrosa FFA, Belgrade, Minnesota, is expanding agricultural education opportunities through classroom visits and farm safety events, while removing financial barriers for FFA members to attend leadership programs to help strengthen the chapter’s impact.
- Ithaca FFA Chapter, Ithaca, Michigan, is installing tile drainage across a 50-acre land lab to bolster students’ ability to successfully plant, grow and harvest crops while reinvesting harvest revenue into the program’s equipment, projects and student activities.
- Minidoka County Senior Center, Rupert, Idaho, is purchasing a new steam table to expand nutritious meal options, durable delivery bags for homebound residents and storage containers to keep fresh, healthy meals accessible for local seniors.
- Peg A Way 4-H, Hardin, Montana, is enhancing community safety and pride with projects that include stop sign flashers, emergency oxygen equipment, town beautification efforts and Chamber of Commerce initiatives. The chapter also is supporting the local “Beef to School” program and upgrading local facilities to serve residents for years to come.
- Big Springs Community Foundation, Big Springs, Nebraska, is improving the town’s community park shelter with new electrical outlets and lighting for improved safety, accessibility and usability for all residents, while supporting local events like Art in the Park and Veterans Day celebrations that bring residents together.
“Funding is always an issue for volunteer organizations,” said Laura Anderson, Barnesville Area Food Pantry Board President. “This award gives us peace of mind, knowing we can keep our vital programming going in the community to serve those in need.”
Since its launch in 2022, Homegrown Giving has awarded $180,000 to local initiatives, supporting more than 18 community projects across U.S. sugarbeet-growing regions. ACH Seeds continues to invest in the people, projects and communities that sustain rural America – helping communities remain strong, resilient and prepared for the future.
To learn more about the Homegrown Giving program or to nominate an organization for next year’s awards, visit achseeds.com.
