Valero donates $5,000 to FFA
Pictured are Austin Duryee, Kylee Smith, and Kelli Wicks of the Rockford FFA, and Kerry Crooks and Dennis Sonberg, both employees of Valero and Floyd County Fair board members, Bailee Bortz and Sadie Ruzicka of the Charles City FFA, Amy Staudt president of the Floyd County Fair board, and Frank Blaine, Valero Plant Manager. Press Photo by Thomas Nelson
Frank Blaine, Valero plant manager giving Amy Staudt, president of the Floyd County Fair board, presents a check for $5,000 to help the FFA building on the Floyd County Fairgrounds.
By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com
The Floyd County FFA chapter received funding for furnishings in their new building located at the Floyd County Fairgrounds.
Thursday Jan. 26, Valero Renewables plant manager Frank Blaine presented Amy Staudt, president of the Floyd County Fair Board, a check for $5,000 to go toward the new Youth Enrichment Center on the Floyd County fairgrounds.
Helping the farming youth today is going help the future of agriculture, Blaine said.
“We need the farmers out there producing the corn in order for us to have a feed stock,” Blaine said.
Valero has a long history of supporting communities where it operates, Blaine said.
“Valero’s been a generous supporter of our fair,” Staudt said.
This donation isn’t the first time that Valero has helped out the Floyd County community. They have given to the benefit for children and helped out at the Floyd County Fair, Staudt said.
“They’ve been a good supporter of the Floyd County fair, our community youth and now they’re up and running helping us do the enrichment center,” Staudt said.
Since 2009 Valero has been involved in the Floyd County community through benefits and employee volunteering.
FFA has completed the funding for the building and is currently working to fund furnishing and equipment for the building.
On March 24 the FFA will be hosting a grand opening of the Youth Enrichment Center. The FFA intends to have a Friday night event planned for the opening.
“Everyone can view and walk through it,” Staudt said. “We will be open for rentals this summer and continue year round.”
During the Floyd County Fair the center will house combines and a non-livestock exhibit.
“We’ll have a big opening for the building at fair time,” Staudt.
Outside of fair time Staudt is hoping students in FFA, 4-H, and other area youth take advantage of it for banquets and youth-related activities.
Staudt wants it to be used for educational and family friendly purposes as well.
“Our primary focus was the education of children,” Staudt said. “As of this time we have three events already in April and one in May, the sports banquet is going to be there this year for the school.”
“It’s kind of neat, so if anyone wanted it for high school graduation parties, they might be able to use for that,” Blaine said.
Valero Renewables is located near Charles City and has 65 full-time employees. The plant converts corn into ethanol.
–20170131
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