Local partnership lights up a community

A partnership between Cargill and local farmers is providing much needed funding for local facilities and charities.

Cargill’s Crops for Communities allows growers to select a community group or initiative and for every tonne committed to the local GrainFlow site, Cargill donates a dollar per tonne, subject to  regional funding caps.

For Pinnaroo farmer, Joel Heinicke, the Crops for Communities program enabled local farmers to get lights installed at the Pinnaroo tennis club, a project that had long been on the cards.

What appears to be  a simple sponsorship, has in fact far greater significance. It is well understood that social and physical activity is important for mental and physical health and that many farmers can find it difficult to find the time to get off the farm to relax.

“With a busy schedule, especially during harvest, day time sport can be an impossibility,” said Joel, “The installation of lights has enabled the club to commence a Friday night competition, working in with the demanding workload of our members.  

“The tennis club is an important part of our community and its members are primarily farmers. The benefits to the community are enormous,” he said.

Territory Manager for the Mallee and Riverland, Collette Wheadon, said getting access to funding for small communities could be difficult, being outcompeted by bigger towns. If farmers and Cargill can work together to support local charities, then it is a no-brainer,” she said.

Pinnaroo is one of 30 rural community organisations sponsored by Cargill and local farmers.

Cargill will be running the Crops for Communities program again for the 2021/22 season.