The Farmington IFA Country Store partnered with various community and nonprofit organizations for volunteer projects in 2023, including the Childhaven Shelter, Growing Forward Farms and the San Juan County Fairgrounds. Steve Griffin/The Desert News via AP, filedu1-i-syn
FARMINGTON – In commemoration of its 100th anniversary, Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) dedicated the milestone year to a noteworthy program of community service. Each IFA branch aimed to volunteer for 100 hours throughout 2023, contributing more than 3,500 hours to various community service projects throughout the Intermountain West.
The Farmington IFA Country Store partnered with various community and nonprofit organizations for these volunteer projects, including the Childhaven Shelter, Growing Forward Farms, and the San Juan County Fairgrounds.
“One of our core values is to be a visible and desired member of the community,” said Adam Fox, IFA Creative Director. “This ‘100 Hours of Service’ initiative was instrumental in helping our employees embody that value and give back to Intermountain West communities that have supported us over the past 100 years.”
These hours represent far more than statistics; they tell stories of lives touched and communities strengthened. Here are just a few examples of the diverse ways IFA employees in Farmington served their neighbors:
Bringing community to vulnerable children: Childhaven’s Children’s Center in Farmington has a mission to “Lift Children from Crisis to Hope.” Branch Manager Joel Whiting decided to volunteer here so he could help children in the shelter heal from trauma – an important feat, as Childhaven offsets its operating costs by utilizing over 5,000 volunteer hours. “It’s so important to show these children separated from their families that the community cares about them,” Whiting said. “Through reading, doing homework, arts and crafts, and more, we shared many smiles and laughs. I always left feeling better than when I came.”
Teaching the next generation of farmers: Trinity Wagoner and Taryn Maness also chose to focus on helping youth, but they spent their time at Growing Forward Farms guiding school children on field trips, teaching them about different farm functions through games and other activities. “Being part of the youth learning process is important since many of them are our future producers, Wagoner said. “Without volunteers, the Farm couldn’t run their field trips in the smooth manner that they do.”
Restoring flood-stricken fairgrounds: an August downpour left the Look and Learn Barn at the The San Juan County Fair unusable for the public and unsafe for the animals. Natane Cockrell saw this disaster as a great opportunity to serve. “Our team brought some supplies and helped get the water cleared out and the ground dried out so that it could open back up. It was hard work, but it was worth it knowing that the animals and public were safe to enjoy this exhibit at the fair.”
The Farmington Branch was a key pillar in IFA’s effort to serve in 2023, surpassing their “100 hours of service” goal.
As an entire company, IFA also wanted to give back: it contributed $267,000 to local organizations, community events and youth livestock shows.
“Junior and local livestock shows play an integral role in providing hands-on educational experiences and opportunities for youth within agriculture,” said Tyler Stinson, IFA Associate V.P., Farm Supply Marketing, “Recognizing the impacts of local livestock shows on young producers, IFA is proud to contribute to both the youth and our local communities through generous sponsorships and contributions at these events.”
As IFA enters its next century, the spirit of service in 2023 reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to fostering positive change in the communities it serves.
Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) has been helping to grow the things you love for more than 100 years. The company’s roots date back to Gunnison, Utah, in 1923 when farmers organized a marketing cooperative to distribute surplus eggs in the region. Years of growth followed; the company’s name was formally changed from Utah Poultry & Farmers Cooperative to Intermountain Farmers Association in 1961. Today, IFA is a locally-owned farm and ranch cooperative that proudly supports all those who live and love the rural lifestyle. We provide expertise and experience to deliver the tools and services that people need in farm supply, agronomy and feed. For more information, visit ifa.coop
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