McLean County Times

Compeer Financial Awards MORE for Agriculture Grant to Illinois   Agri-Food Alliance

Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America has awarded $50,000 to the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance through their MORE for Agriculture Grant.

This grant, now in its fifth year, supports innovative programs that encompass four qualities:

Mission: Aligns with the mission of Compeer Financial, enriches agriculture and rural communities

Opportunity: Provides a new opportunity for clients or future clients, fills a known void in agricultural and rural markets, is a new and innovative project

Replication: Can be replicated by others to serve different geographic areas, with the ability for future collaboration

Evolution: Evolves over time to create a better future for agriculture and rural America

Support for the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance will go toward The Agnitor, a platform that connects Illinois students to agri-food careers. Illinois Agri-Food Alliance worked with a cross-sector collaborative of agri-food stakeholders to develop Agnitor with Pathful, a digital college and career readiness system. The platform will focus on engaging high school students in virtual chats to explore agriculture, food and natural resources careers. The goal is to increase awareness and interest in the industries and explore career opportunities across Illinois. The branded platform will launch in 2023. 

“More than 90% of agriculture and food sector jobs are not on a farm,” said Tyler Strom, managing director of the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance. “Through Agnitor, we hope to showcase to students that no matter their passion or career trajectory, all paths can lead to a valuable and sustainable career in agriculture, food and natural resources.”

The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Trustees asked Compeer team members to identify programs and projects they believe create MORE for agriculture. In all, nearly $900,000 has been awarded to 20 organizations since 2019.

 “Compeer Financial is committed to supporting the growth and success of agriculture in Illinois and beyond,” said Melissa Roth, team leader of human resources at Compeer Financial. “By fostering connections between students and industry professionals through Agnitor, we can help today’s generation gain a stronger understanding and appreciation for our agri-food system and spark a lasting interest in the many different jobs and careers the industry has to offer.”

For more information, visit compeer.com/giving-back.

Original source can be found here