Bulloch 4-H receives $3K

Local man donates winnings to organization, adds $500

Bulloch County 4-H received a total of $3,000 Thursday when Monsanto, a seed and technology company based in St. Louis, Mo., selected local farmer Wade McElveen as winner of an annual drawing. Farmers selected choose a charity or group to receive a $2,500 donation, and McElveen chose Bulloch County 4-H. He also donated $500 himself. Shown, from left, are Monsanto representative Ty Fowler, Bulloch County 4-H Director Lee Anna Deal, McElveen and his wife, Debbie. The McElveens are Deals parents. - photo by HOLLI DEAL BRAGG/staff

4-H AWARD WEB — Bulloch County 4-H received a total of $3,000 Thursday when Monsanto, a seed and technology company based in St. Louis, Mo., selected local farmer Wade McElveen as winner of an annual drawing. Farmers selected choose a charity or group to receive a $2,500 donation, and McElveen chose Bulloch County 4-H. He also donated $500 himself. Shown, from left, are Monsanto representative Ty Fowler, Bulloch County 4-H Director Lee Anna Deal, McElveen and his wife, Debbie. The McElveens are Deals parents. - photo by HOLLI DEAL BRAGG/staff

The Bulloch County 4-H Club is $3,000 richer, thanks to the generosity of a Missouri-based seed company and a local farmer.

Wade McElveen entered a drawing through Monsanto, a seed and technology company out of St. Louis, Mo., and was one of 1,200 farmers across the nation who won.

According to Ty Fowler, territorial agronomist with Monsanto, there were 1,200 counties in his region eligible for the contest, and one farmer from each county won $2,500, to be awarded to a charity of his choice.

McElveen, whose daughter is Bulloch County 4-H Agent Lee Anna Deal, decided he would not only give the $2,500 to 4-H, but tossed in an additional $500, Deal said.

Fowler said 4,700 farmers entered the drawing in counties where 90 percent of the nation's corn, soybeans, and cotton are grown.

"We have donated over $3 million to date" to various charities, groups and entities, he said. The contest is in its second year.

Winning farmers have donated winnings to FFA, 4-H, volunteer fire departments, and other civic organizations "that contribute to the quality of life in rural communities," he said. "The program returns money to rural communities in a show of appreciation for the loyalty growers have shown us."

Deal and McElveen, accompanied by Bulloch County Agent Wes Harris, several local 4-H members and Debbie McElveen, accepted the award Thursday after an agricultural seminar on weed control hosted by several companies, including Monsanto. The event concluded with a low country boil luncheon.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 912-489-9414.