Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: “Love. They must do it for love.” Love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable. They love to live where they work and to work where they live I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed to live at least a part of their lives without a boss.” From Wendell Berry’s, Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food.

Although there have been many and will be more quotes about farming, this one aptly and succinctly zeroes in on why farmers do what they dolove. Farmers have a passion for the earth, the outdoors, their animals, and the opportunity to be their own bosses. The fruit of this love for their vocation comes with a great deal of hard work and devotion to what they do. But as much as they do for us already, farmers have another opportunity to make a difference to help their communities by giving the gift of grain through the Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF).

While most people think of making charitable contributions in the form of cash, a farmer’s gift of grain donation is a smart way to give and makes an impact in their community. Donating a gift of grain to TCCF is a simple way to make a lasting difference. The value of the grain can be used to start an endowed fund, in the name of an individual or family, for a specific nonprofit organization important to the fund holder, or to contribute to an existing fund under the TCCF. Gifts can also be made to support the discretionary grant process, which supports charitable causes in the local community. No matter the size of the gift, you can be sure the gift of grain grows the future of Tama County.

By making a gift of grain to TCCF, farmers can avoid including the sale of the grain in their farm income. Farmers can deduct the cost of growing the crops, which typically results in saving self-employment tax, federal income tax and state income tax. Farmers can benefit even if they don’t itemize their deductions and take the standard deduction. Gifts of grain to permanent endowment funds with a qualified community foundation may be eligible for a 25% state tax credit on the total value of the gift through the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program.

Tama County elevators have been given TCCF Gift of Grain brochures. It is hoped that all farmers will take a few minutes to acquaint themselves with this beneficial information. These brochures include easy instructions that insure each donor’s grain gift is transferred correctly and efficiently to TCCF and is directed in the way that the donor intended it to serve the local community.

At its inception in 2005, TCCF, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, gave out $46,671.84. This year, the TCCF dispersed $105,698.67 in discretionary grants and a total of $136, 378.90. Since 2005, the TCCF has given out $738,549.68 in grants?all in Tama County. Currently, the TCCF has over $1.5 million in funds.

Although this list was in a previous article, many may not have seen it the first time and it bears repeating. The Tama County Community Foundation, in the last ten years has helped support local communities in a plethora of ways. The following is JUST a PARTIAL list of grants given to Tama County’s cities, schools, and non-profit organizations:

Chelsea?Chelsea Public Library; Chelsea Fire Department Pagers, three benches, and a planter mold.

Clutier – ZCBJ Hall Preservation; Fire Department Equipment; Clutier Public Library Storage Units; Bohemian Plum Festival; Clutier Betterment Committee.

Dysart – Wolf Creek Players Audio/Sound System and Camp Creamery 2014; Lions Drinking Fountain; Camp Creamery 2014; Remembering our Past, Renovating for the Future, Dysart Historical Society Museum.

Elberon – Elberon Library; Fire and Rescue: Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator; Beautify Elberon.

Garwin – Garwin Library Improvements; Fire Department Equipment Purchase; City Hall Improvements

Gladbrook – Fire Department -Narrow banding radio/pages; Gladbrook City Centre Enhancements; Gladbrook Fitness and Wellness Center Pool Enhancements; Matchstick Marvels Brochure & Distribution.

Lincoln – (2006) Lincoln AmVet Home- Spray foam insulation and room divider; New roof

Montour – Safety Equipment Project; pagers & radios.

Tama – Oak Hill Cemetery Repair & landscaping; Tama Mapping project; Veteran Flags replaced at Oak Hill Cemetery; Tama-Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce-welcome sign on Hwy 30 Bypass; Downtown Christmas lights.

Toledo – Wieting Theatre- Camp Creamery 2014, new stage curtain, and remodeling; Toledo Fire Station: Furnace/AC replacement; Toledo Bandstand Renovation; Toledo Heights Park Shelter House Restrooms.

Traer – Entrance Sign Committee-3 Signs for Traer; Traer Theatre?digital 3D projector; Make Waves for the Traer Pool/Keep Fit (Families in Traer) Project; Sun umbrellas for Winding Stair Festival; Pied Piper Preschool and Day Care Center, Cement Playground; Traer Historical Museum, Renovation of Tama Jim Wilson Exhibit.

Vining – Fire Department roof enhancements; Hand-held radios & pagers; Generator for Vining Area Emergency Shelter; and National Cemetery Heritage and History Repair.

Tama County – Tama County Nature Center Exhibit Component and Exhibit Component Phase 2; Tama County Humane Society Update outdoor pole sign and dog suites; Northeast Iowa Food Bank Elderly Nutrition Program; Tama County Historical Society Purchase of new micro film cabinet; Tama County 4-H Fair–refrigerator, computer, and printer.

Schools- South Tama County Schools After School Science Club; Garwin- Green Mountain Community Schools- Fine Arts Department New Stage Curtains and Rods; Union Middle School Steel of the Knights Robotic Club; North Tama County School District?Tama County STEM Festival 2013- 2014; Iowa Juvenile Foundation?Herbert Hoover School Library and the True Colors Activity Program.

The Tama County Governing Board is made up of local volunteers and represents Tama’s local cities. The following Tama County citizens are currently members of the Governing Board:

Emily Babinat, Tama; Sue Carnahan, Tama; Ardene Cross, Clutier; Kathy Fattig, Chelsea; Kent Folson, Dysart; Mandy Gehring, Gladbrook; Sandi Kopriva, Clutier; Heath Kellogg, Tama County Economic Development; Rick Krug, Dysart; Travis Mullen, Toledo; Greg Pettiecord, Lincoln; Trudi Scott, Gladbrook; Brian Sokol, Toledo; Dave Svoboda, Toledo; and Ellen Young, Traer.

Tama County farmers, please consider giving to the Tama County Community Foundation in order to make a lasting legacy in your community. Your generous donation CAN make a difference. If you are interested in making a gift of grain to TCCF, please contact Mary Fasse-Shaw, TCCF Development Associate, at 641-751-5251 or at mfasseshaw@tamaccf.org. For more information on TCCF, visit www.tamaccf.org.

The Tama County Community Foundation is here, in Tama County, for good. TCCF helps people establish permanent funds to support causes they care about in their community, and awards grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities creating stronger, more vibrant communities. TCCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impact in 20 counties in Iowa. For more information, contact 319-287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. CFNEIA is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.