Eighty-six Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters received $500 Shaping Rural Missouri Grants from FCS Financial for community improvement projects this summer, including a number of groups from Warren County. These youth-led projects include landscaping fairgrounds, building community gardens, improving accessibility at local parks, and renovating fair facilities.

This marks the 15th year FCS Financial has awarded the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant. Since the program's inception, FCS Financial has distributed more than $407,000 through 836 grants to support rural communities across the state.

"It's inspiring to see the continued commitment to community service from our youth in agriculture and their leaders," said Rob Guinn, FCS Financial CEO. "These grants empower 4-H and FFA members to collaborate on projects that benefit their local Missouri communities while simultaneously developing valuable leadership and teamwork skills."

In 2026, FCS Financial awarded the following Warren County 4-H clubs a Shaping Rural Missouri Grant in support of implementing the project listed:

• Country Crossroads 4-H Club (Warren): Installing a new livestock barn scale to support youth agricultural educational programs.
• Daniel Boone After School 4-H Club (Warren): Enhancing youth communication skills with new professional public speaking supplies and backdrops.
• Elkhorn 4-H Club (Warren): Installing a dedicated sheep washing station at the county fairgrounds.
• Prairie View 4-H Club (Warren): Upgrading livestock facilities with a new hose system at the Warren County Fairgrounds.
• Rolling Stones 4-H Club (Warren): Designing and planting community flowerbeds at local church and fairground entrances.
• The Rebecca Boone Afterschool 4-H Club (Warren): Installing pollination planters to support local ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Warren County 4-H Council (Warren): Hosting the "Nature Quest" program to provide outdoor educational experiences for youth.
• Warren County 4-H Gardening Project Group (Warren): Revitalizing the Truesdale Community Garden with new soil to support local food production.
• Warren County 4-H Poultry Project Group (Warren): Enhancing agricultural science education with a new embryology incubator system.
• Warren County 4-H Powered STEM Project Group (Warren): Expanding the "4-H STEM 2 Go" program to provide mobile educational kits.
• Warren County 4-H Teen Leaders (Warren): Launching the "Food Pantry Cooking Challenge" to raise awareness for local food security.
• Warren County Trailblazers 4-H Club (Warren): Improving community accessibility through the installation of professional handicapped parking signage.
• Warrenton FFA Chapter (Warren): Constructing dedicated goat wash racks at the Warren County Fairgrounds.
• Warrior Ridge After School 4-H Club (Warren): Leading a comprehensive landscaping project to revitalize the local Extension office.

The 2027 Shaping Rural Missouri Grant application will be available on January 1, 2027, at myfcsfinancial.com.