Huron County View

Agri-Valley Communications, CoBank donate $12,000 for FFA barns


Jacqueline Bove, of CoBank, and Edwin H. Eichler, of Agri-Valley Communications (center), present checks totaling $8,000 to Bad Axe Public Schools teacher and FFA Advisor Victoria Yackle (far left), along with her FFA students. The funds will provide a remote video surveillance system for the district’s new FFA and Agri-Science Livestock Barn. Courtesy photos

Jacqueline Bove, of CoBank, and Edwin H. Eichler, of Agri-Valley Communications (center), present checks totaling $8,000 to Bad Axe Public Schools teacher and FFA Advisor Victoria Yackle (far left), along with her FFA students. The funds will provide a remote video surveillance system for the district’s new FFA and Agri-Science Livestock Barn. Courtesy photos

PIGEON – Bad Axe Public Schools and Ubly Community Schools are a each step closer to completing their FFA barn projects as a result of a donation from Agri-Valley Communications and lending partner CoBank, through CoBank’s “Sharing Success” program. The donors presented checks at the Huron Community Fair.

Bad Axe received $8,000 for its new FFA and Agri-Science Livestock Barn’s remote video surveillance system; Ubly received $4,000 for its FFA Barn Fund.

“Each of these barns will provide expanded learning opportunities to area youth who do not have access at home to agriculture or livestock facilities,” said Agri-Valley Communications President & CEO Edwin H. Eichler. “We’re proud to help these schools overcome the challenge of making FFA-related fields accessible to students not raised on a farm.”

Bad Axe began its project in 2018 to house fair projects and enrich its educational curriculum with a zoology course and special projects for other classes throughout the year. While the majority of the barn project has been funded, the remote video surveillance system remained on the school district and FFA’s wish list.

Edwin H. Eichler, of Agri-Valley Communications, and Jacqueline Bove, of CoBank, (fourth and third right, respectively), present checks totaling $4,000 to Ubly Community Schools teacher and FFA Advisor Melissa Kramer (center) and her FFA students. The funds will assist in the construction of the district’s new FFA Barn.

Edwin H. Eichler, of Agri-Valley Communications, and Jacqueline Bove, of CoBank, (fourth and third right, respectively), present checks totaling $4,000 to Ubly Community Schools teacher and FFA Advisor Melissa Kramer (center) and her FFA students. The funds will assist in the construction of the district’s new FFA Barn.

“A camera system that is remotely accessible is critical for monitoring the safety of both our students and animals in the barn,” said Bad Axe Teacher & FFA Advisor Victoria Yackle. “Agri- Valley Communications and CoBank’s gift will enable us to monitor the barn while away for FFA events, on weekends and during summer months.”

Ubly’s barn is under way with some funds secured and grants and donations from area businesses solicited to cover remaining expenses.

“Agri-Valley Communications and CoBank’s gracious donation is helping our FFA barn toward completion,” said Ubly Teacher & FFA Advisor Melissa Kramer. “Once completed, the barn will be an asset to both our school and the surrounding community.”

The partners previously donated more than $10,000 to Laker in 2017 for its FFA barn.

“Sharing Success matches the contributions of CoBank’s customers to the causes and organizations they care most about,” said CoBank Communications Banking Group Managing Director Jacqueline Bove. “As an outstanding member of their community, we’re proud to assist Agri-Valley Communications in their philanthropic initiatives.”