WK Kellogg Co recently demonstrated its belief in the power of regenerative agriculture when it made a $7,500 donation to the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF).
The gift is DGSHF’s largest corporate contribution to date and comes as part of WK Kellogg Co’s Feeding HappinessTMsustainable business strategy. Through Feeding Happiness, the company aims to positively impact people and the planet through three focus areas: Make Eating Well Easy, Help Kids Be Their Best and Better Our Communities.
“The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund strongly aligns with our Feeding Happiness efforts,” said Sarah Ludmer, Chief Wellbeing and Sustainable Business Officer, WK Kellogg Co. “This partnership aims to foster the well-being of both communities and our planet, with a special focus on supporting the growth of our young farmers.”
As an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, DGSHF honors Dan Gillespie, a life-long farmer and a long-time no-till farming practitioner and advocate. Following a courageous battle with ALS, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund was established to allow Gillespie’s family, friends and fellow soil health enthusiasts across the nation to carry on his work indefinitely.
DGSHF is focused on building an endowment to award grants twice per year that support education and programming for youth, current and future farmers, ranchers and others directly involved in agriculture in Nebraska and surrounding states. The contribution from WKKF supports this forward-thinking mission, which allows the farmers of today to make an invaluable impact on the farmers of tomorrow.
A volunteer fund advisory committee that determines grant awardees prioritizes projects supporting current and future growers (adults or youth) in adopting practices that address water quality and soil health, such as cover crops, reduced tillage, complex crop rotations and nutrient management to reduce soil erosion, nutrient run-off and greenhouse gas emissions.
Past DGSHF grants have supported organizations like No Till on the Plains, UNL Extension, Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, and youth centered projects and programs including City Sprouts which supports urban students with interests in agricultural careers, the Battle Creek FFA chapter and Central City High School for the benefit of a student’s scientific research program on the effect on land management technique on soil aggregation and the soil microbiome.
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About Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund
The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund honors Dan Gillespie, a life-long farmer and long-time no-till farming practitioner and advocate, by raising funds and making grants to support soil health. The fund is dedicated to education and educational practices related to soil health and regenerative agriculture, including but not limited to no-till farming, water conservation, tree conservation and planting cover crops.
Grants from this Fund may support educational events and programming for youth, current farmers and ranchers and others involved in agriculture. The geographic focus of the Fund is Nebraska and surrounding states. A volunteer Fund Advisory Committee works actively to increase charitable giving and award grants to causes and projects that are addressing emerging needs and future opportunities to educate, inform and support healthy soil practices. Established in 2021, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund is an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation. For more information visit www.nebcommfound.org/give/dan-gillespie-soil-health-fund.