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In the News
MFA Foundation awards $125,000 gift for Jefferson Farm & Gardens
Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute
June 28, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. (June 28, 2007) – The Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute is pleased to announce that the MFA Foundation has committed $125,000 in support for Jefferson Farm & Gardens. The MFA Foundation was established nearly 50 years ago and is supported by both Columbia based organizations, MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company. This gift will be used toward the cost of construction of the Children’s Barn at this new 67-acre educational facility under development in Columbia, Mo.
The Children’s Barn will serve as an educational facility to inform visitors on the importance of animal agriculture. Under the supervision of an animal science youth educator, visitors will be able to see common Missouri farm animals up close in the barn and view informational exhibits.
“We are sincerely grateful to MFA and its foundations for helping to make this integral component of the Jefferson Farm & Gardens project possible,” said Rob Myers, executive director of the Jefferson Institute.
Both Jerry Taylor, President of MFA Oil Company and Don Copenhaver, President & CEO of MFA Incorporated offered these comments: “The Board of Trustees of the MFA Foundation is proud to play a role in establishing this new educational facility. Furthering education is the primary mission of our Foundation. The MFA Foundation will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Over those 50 years the MFA Foundation has provided over $10 million in scholarships to nearly 10,000 graduating high school seniors. The Foundation currently provides over 300 scholarships annually through out our market area to high school seniors in the amount of $2,000 each. The Jefferson Farm & Gardens, with its focus on education and agriculture, well fits within the scope of the MFA Foundation.”
The Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Missouri that conducts agricultural education and research projects. For more information on Jefferson Farm & Gardens, visit www.jeffersonfarm.org.