MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - During a live 93Q radio interview on December 20, 2022, Yuba River Endowment coordinator, Crystal Martin, surprised Lindhurst High FFA advisor Meaghan Alvarez, and FFA student-leaders Alanna Whitlock, Ella Peterson, Erika Rivera-Vargas, with a $40,000 donation.

The Yuba River Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Yuba County farmers to benefit Yuba County residents. The funds for Lindhurst FFA will go towards infrastructure improvement costs and travel costs for their 220 students to participate in their upcoming field trips and State competition. Over the past two months the Endowment also presented Marysville High School FFA and Bear River Middle School FFA with donations.

“Lindhurst is so special. I am one of the many teachers and staff here who went to school here, went away to get our degrees, but chose to come back and serve this community we love,” said Alvarez. “Our Lindhurst FFA students have amazing hearts and are capable of accomplishing so much. These funds are going to allow them to take part in more field trips, explore more college campuses, and better hone their leadership skills before they graduate.”

The Yuba River Endowment is comprised of farmers who have a right to water that flows on the Yuba River. In some years these farmers are able to both farm their own land and transfer a portion of their water to drought-stricken areas of the state. A portion of the proceeds from these water transfers goes to the Endowment. Since formation in late 2019, the Endowment has donated over $450,000 to support Yuba County ag education, provide food resources, veterans support, and much more.

“We recently toured the Lindhurst High ag facilities and talked with some of their impressive FFA leadership students,” said local farmer and Yuba River Endowment Board Member, Mike Filice. “They are truly accomplishing great things but are limited due to lack of funds to get projects like their greenhouse and plasma cutter up and running. Our board wants to ensure that all FFA programs in Yuba County stay strong and thrive. Hopefully these funds will give Lindhurst the foundation they need to continue to do great things.”

To learn more about Lindhurst FFA, visit www.facebook.com/lindhurstcaffa. To learn more about the Yuba River Endowment, visit www.facebook.com/yubariverendowment. In addition, the Yuba River Endowment’s 2023 scholarship application is now live at www.farmersgivingback.com. Any graduating senior from a Yuba County high school, or any Yuba County resident who will be attending a college or trade school next year, is eligible to apply. The application deadline is January 31, 2023.