Chinook High FFA Chapter students receive first grants from Bulls for Blue program
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Chinook High FFA members Anna Mitchell and Jade Cercle are pictured at the recent Shipwheel Cattle Company's bull sale. For two years Shipwheel has been donating part of the sale proceeds from Lot 10 to support Bulls for Blue. Bulls for Blue offers grants to Montana FFA members who want to do supervised beef projects. The program is in its second year of making grants. Anna and Jade are the first two applicants from the CHS chapter.
The first Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from Chinook High to receive grants through the Montana FFA Bulls for Blue program attended the Shipwheel Cattle Company's recent bull sale. Bulls for Blue is a program that allows beef producers to earmark 10% of the selling price of Lot 10 from their bull sale to the FFA Foundation. FFA students who are interested in beginning or expanding their own beef program can apply for a one time grant from Bulls for Bule to use for a Supervised Agriculture Experience Project.
Anna Mitchell and Jade Cecrle are both members of the Chinook High FFA and according to Vo-ag teacher Robin Allen, the first local students to apply for the grants.
To apply, students write an essay explaining how they would use the grant money. Bree and Austin Swanson are also FFA members at Chinook High. Swanson's parents own and operate Shipwheel Cattle Company and donated part of the sale proceeds from their bull to Bulls for Blue in both 2016 and 2017, likely making the siblings some of the first FFA members to participate in the program as beef producers.
Montana's Bulls for Blue
started in 2015
Jaime Edmundson, Executive Director of the Montana FFA Foundation, explained why Bulls for Blue was started. Noting that Montana is one of the largest producers of cattle in the U.S. she said, "It only made sense to promote the beef industry and provide opportunities for our next generation of beef producers to keep the industry thriving well into the future." A few other states, including Wyoming, have programs that are variations of Bulls for Blue.
The number of Montana beef producers who donate 10% of their proceeds from Lot 10 (a lot at a bull sale is typically one animal) currently stands at about 20. Shipwheel has been supporting the program for the past two years. The proceeds from the bull sales of the current 20 beef producers generate about $8500 to support the grants to the successful FFA grant applicants. Seven grants to students were made during each of the past two years.
Bulls for Blue grants offer start-up funds for students in the beef industry. Students can use the funds to purchase cows, secure leased ground for grazing or cover other costs associated with their approved project. Edmundson said students have used the grant money in a variety of ways from expanding or starting their own beef operation to "using their funds or product to support local food banks and community hunger programs." She added, "The Foundation has been blown away by the generosity and positive feedback from producers around the state."
Chinook FFA very involved in Bulls for Blue
Anna Mitchell and Jade Cecrle are the first two FFA members at Chinook High to apply for and receive the grants.
Anna plans to use her grant money to purchase a stock tank and a heifer. She's basically in the start up mode of her beef program.
Jade already has seven head of cattle. She will use her money to help buy her own bull as she currently leases a bull from her parents. Her plans are to ranch on her own at some point.
On the production side of the Bulls for Blue program Austin and Bree Swanson, of Shipwheel, are supporting future producers by donating part of their bull sale proceeds. Last year Austin's bull generated $600+ for Bulls for Blue. The 2016 bull sale was the first time Shipwheel participated in Bulls for Blue. Lori Swanson, Austin's mom and a co-owner of Shipwheel, said she and husband, Klint, felt the donation was important to attract and help new beef producers.
This year Shipwheel BLS Packer 6583, a bull jointly owned by Bree and Austin, produced $1000+ to support Montana's future beef producers. Austin, a freshman at CHS and active in FFA, was asked if he would consider applying for a grant from Bulls for Blue. He said, "Yes, eventually I will because a little extra cash in the pocket is nice to put into buying cattle, land, feed and appliances."
The future of Bulls for Blue
Bulls for Blue, now beginning its third year of operation, is giving FFA students a financial boost as they begin or expand their beef operations. Foundation Director Jaime Edmondsun hopes additional beef producers will join the program of donating a portion of Lot 10 to support the student grants. She believes there will be more students writing grant proposals as Bulls for Blue becomes better known.
Edmondsun said in an earlier interview she would like to see similar programs where producers could make a donation for heifer and steer sales as well as bulls. There is even the potential for some variation of the program to help FFA members who are trying to get started or expand operations involving commodities. She added, "The more we utilize the community members and stakeholders that make our ag fields successful, the better we serve our members around Montana."
The "Journal" salutes Bulls for Blue that helps aspiring beef producers continue this vital segment of the ag economy in Montana. Also, thanks to Bree and Austin Swanson for their financial support of Bulls for Blue and congratulations to Anna Mitchell and Jade Cecrle for their successful grant applications. The next generation of beef producers seems anxious and willing to do their part to continue Montana's lead in beef production.
