Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that 17 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2026 Building Our American Communities grant program.

Seven chapters of the National FFA Organization and 10 Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year, including the Otterville FFA Chapter and 4 C’s 4-H Club in Boonville. Each of the 2026 awardees will receive $500 toward their projects, which may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings, such as fairgrounds, parks or community centers used by local organizations.

The grants are funded through Missouri’s Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA. 4-H clubs and FFA chapters awarded grants this year must complete their projects no later than August 1, 2026. The complete list of grant recipients is available below:

FFA Chapters

-California FFA, California (Moniteau County)
-Otterville FFA, Otterville (Cooper County)
-Memphis FFA, Memphis (Scotland County)
-Elsberry FFA, Elsberry (Lincoln County)
-Willow Springs FFA, Willow Springs (Howell County)
-West Plains FFA, West Plains (Howell County)
-Dora FFA, Dora (Ozark County)

4-H Clubs

-Show Me 4-H Club, California (Moniteau County)
-4 C’s 4-H Club, Boonville (Cooper County)
-Liberty Leaders 4-H Club, Edina (Knox County)
-Shafter 4-H Club, Linneus (Linn County)
-Foundation Creation 4-H Club, Maysville (DeKalb County)
-Wranglers 4-H Club, Maysville (DeKalb County)
-Drake 4-H Club, Owensville (Gasconade County)
-Double S 4-H Club, Hermann (Gasconade County)
-Patton 4-H Club, Marquand (Bollinger County)
-Ripley County 4-H Club, Doniphan (Ripley County)