Farm Credit Services of Mid-America Donates to Habitat for Humanity, Grain Bin Rescue Programs at Purdue University

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) December 21, 2011

The Northwest Indiana Region of Farm Credit Services of Mid-America has announced two stewardship grants to agencies within its service area.

The first was to Habitat for Humanity of Benton, Fountain and Warren Counties. Habitat is a Christian Mission founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent place to live in dignity and safety.

Sandy Tabert, treasurer for the local chapter, explained that typical applicants for a Habitat home are people who are working and would like to own their own home, but are struggling financially. Once chosen, the recipients must take classes and put in required “sweat equity” hours before construction begins.

“I like to say that we believe in giving a hand up, not a handout,” said Tabert. “We rely on donations of money, materials, and labor to fund these homes, and gifts like the one from Farm Credit are essential to our mission.”

Farm Credit Financial Services Officer Sonia Gick, who is based in the Williamsport field office, was a volunteer at the Habitat house at this year’s Indiana State Fair. She said that FCS also wanted to do something to support Habitat in their own region. “Farm Credit serves rural America, and we wanted to do something we knew would help a family in our community,” she said.
A check for $3,000 was presented to Tabert on July 1.

A second grant for $1,000 was presented to Purdue University to support a series of training workshops for volunteer fire departments and EMTs on rescue procedures for farmers trapped in grain bins.

“We’re very grateful to Farm Credit Services for their assistance in this effort,” said Dr. Bill Fields of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. “Grain bin rescue involves some very specialized procedures which most firemen and EMTs, even in rural areas, are not familiar with. As a result of these training workshops, we’ve actually had some instances where farmers who were partially buried have been rescued out of these bins.”

Randi Potts, a Financial Services Officer working out of the Valparaiso field office, said giving back to the rural areas they serve is central to Farm Credit’s stewardship program.
“We feel strongly about farm safety,” she said. “We believe funding for this grain entrapment rescue training is a good way to help improve safety for the farmers in our community.”

The Northwest Indiana region of Farm Credit Services of Mid-America serves about 2,800 customers through offices in Lafayette, Valparaiso, Rensselaer, and Williamsport. With $604 million in loans for all types of farm and rural living purposes, including real estate, operating, equipment, and housing loans, FCS also provides an array of financial services, including crop insurance and leases. While many Farm Credit loans are to full-time farmers, they also serve part-time farmers and non-farming rural residents who have home loans.

About Farm Credit Services of Mid-America

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $17.1 billion financial services cooperative serving over 92,500 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including including real estate, operating loans,equipment loans, and housing loans. FCS also provides an array of financial services, including crop insurance and leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM or visit them on the web at http://www.e-farmcredit.com.

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