Fitzhugh Bethea of Dillon has been selected as a winner in the America’s Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM program, which gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations.  The awards are available through Monsanto Fund. Bethea has designated Girl Scout Troop #23, located in Dillon, to receive the award.  
Bethea says he is very excited to have been selected as the winner for Dillon County.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to direct this donation fro Monsanto to our local Girl Scout troop. I see scouting as a very worthy cause. It is something I have been around my entire life. My daughter, wife, mother, and sisters have all been involved in Girl Scouts at one time or another. It is a program that has done a lot for my family and I am happy to be able to give back.”
The $2,500 donation was awarded at a ceremony held at a troop meeting at Main Street First United Church on October 20.
In its initial year, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program has provided nearly 500 farmers in 10 states with $2,500 awards to direct to their favorite nonprofit organization.  In total, more than $35,000 was donated to nonprofits in South Carolina.
On Sept. 1, the program expanded nationwide to more than 1,200 counties in 38 states. Eligible farmers in South Carolina can enter the contest again now by going to www.growcommunities.com or by calling 1.877.267.3332 and applying by phone.
The America’s Farmers Grow Communities program is part of a broad commitment by Monsanto Company to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society by helping them grow their local communities.
More than 20,000 farmers participated in the program, which is designed to benefit nonprofit groups such as ag youth, schools and other civic organizations.  Visit www.growcommunities.com to view a complete list of winners.