Le Mars Little League Receives Donation From Monsanto’s “American Farmers Grow Communities” program. Standing (left to right) are David Christoffel, District Sales Manager with Channel Seed Co.; Annette Kuiken, Le Mars Little League treasurer; Wayne Beitelspacher, Julie Beitelspacher, and Keith Koerselman, Channel Seed Company local seed representative. Channel Seed Company is a subsidiary of Monsanto/Bayer Company.
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Little League is the benefactor of the American Farmers Grow Communities donation. Each year, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program partners with local farmers to provide grants to local non-profit organizations. The program is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, a
philanthropic arm of Bayer. The program provides farmers the opportunity to support and give back to non-profit organizations they care about in their local community by enrolling for a chance to direct $2,500 donation to a non-profit of their choice. Since 2010, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program has given more than $33 million to over 8,000 non-profit
organization across rural America. Wayne and Julie Beitelspacher of rural Le Mars was the winner of the local program. On Thursday, the Beitelspachers, along with officials with Channel Seed Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto, presented a check for the amount of $2,500 to officials with the Le Mars Little League Association. Accepting the check was Annette Kuiken who serves as the treasurer of the Le Mars Little League Association.
Kuiken says after last September’s flood, the Le Mars Little League set a goal to raise $100,000. Kuiken says the Le Mars Little League has been able to raise more than $70,000 of the goal. However, with last week’s flooding once again spilling water into the ballparks, Kuiken says the board of
directors with the Le Mars Little League may have to seek additional funds.
This is the third time the Beitelspachers have been selected to direct grant funds to area organizations. Previously, they directed money to help the L.E.E.P program and the Le Mars Back pack program.
