STATESVILLE, NC – Orange County 4-H was selected as a recipient of the 2025-2026 AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant. They were one of 43 organizations chosen across Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to receive the grant from a total of 210 applications.
Orange County 4-H, the youth development program of the N.C. Cooperative Extension- Orange County Center and based at NC State University Extension, embodies the mission "to provide meaningful opportunities for all youth and adults to work together to create sustainable community change." They plan to use the grant funds to purchase equipment and re-launch the highly effective Embryology School Enrichment Program in 2nd and 8th grade classrooms starting in 2026. This critical investment will allow 4-H staff to reach over 800 students annually in Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, providing hands-on learning about the chicken life cycle and early exposure to agricultural careers.
This project is a model of sustainable community change. The educational component for students is directly linked to an adult workforce development initiative: chicks hatched in the classrooms will be used by Cooperative Extension to provide training opportunities for local farmers interested in poultry processing. The final, processed birds will then be directed to local food security nonprofits for distribution to residents experiencing food insecurity throughout Orange County.
“Our Growing Our Communities Grant is another way that AgSouth Farm Credit strives to enhance agriculture and rural communities in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.” said Chad Puryear CEO, AgSouth Farm Credit, “These grants help provide project funding for many great organizations across our territory.”
The AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant operates on an application-based grant system. Non-profit organizations and farmers markets may apply for up to $5,000 per year to help in their endeavors to promote and further the future of agriculture. To qualify for a grant, non-profit organizations must be located within the 147 counties and geographic area where AgSouth Farm Credit conducts business. For more information, please visit the AgSouth Growing Our Communities Grant page.
About AgSouth:
AgSouth Farm Credit provides loans for land, equipment, and production agriculture; crop insurance; leasing; and home mortgages. The Association serves counties in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and is headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina. AgSouth is an equal housing lender and an equal opportunity provider.
