Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Land O’Lakes Foundation to help fund the Heritage Area’s 2013 communication and awareness programs. Land O’Lakes Foundation Board Member Doug Reimer formally presented the grant check to SSNHA President Don Short and Chairman Troy Louwagie during the Heritage Area’s Annual Golden Silo Awards on April 3 in Waterloo, Iowa. The funds will be used to improve and expand programs dedicated to preserving and sharing America’s agricultural story.
From dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly tours, more than 100 designated Partner Sites within this federally designated 37-county region of Northeast Iowa are actively sharing their own unique part of America’s agricultural legacy with over 3.4 million visitors each year. Additionally, Heritage Area education programs connect more than 300,000 youth and educators annually with agriculture and where their food comes from.
“We are extremely excited to be partnering with Land O’Lakes to share this important piece of America’s story. Through their donation, we’ll be able to continue to improve current programming, while developing new and innovative projects to connect the public with agriculture,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President.
Land O’Lakes Foundation recognizes rural communities are a cornerstone of American life and has established ongoing giving programs to insure their vitality and growth. Foundation resources are awarded through several programs that donate cash and encourage employee volunteerism in communities across the United States — where over 300,000 farmers, ranchers and employees work in agriculture, food and fiber production, dairy processing and food marketing. Land O’Lakes Foundation Community Grants Program provides support through cash grants to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities where Land O’Lakes has a significant concentration of members or employees.
SSNHA is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities—past and present. To learn more about Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, please visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
Topics: Press Releases
