Pictured: Rebecca Perry (Edwards County Farm Bureau), Ashely Spray & Heather Spray (West Salem Athletic Association), Matt Lynch (Edwards County Farm Bureau Board member), and Jason Arnold & Harvey Fenton (West Salem Fire Department) display the new emergency medical equipment for the West Salem Community Park & Ballfield.
In a move aimed at strengthening rural communities, the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has partnered with county Farm Bureaus to award 30 Rural Development Grants totaling $120,000 across the state. Among the recipients are organizations in Edwards County, where local efforts will see vital support.
The West Salem Fire Department, working alongside the West Salem Athletic Association, received a Farm Bureau Rural Development Grant to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and a Stop Bleed kit for the community park and ballfield. These additions are part of a larger, multi-year plan to upgrade the facility, which plays host to the annual countywide Freedom Festival, grade school baseball games, approximately 80 summer league softball and baseball games, and numerous other community events.
“We are thrilled to bring life-saving emergency medicine supplies to West Salem,” said Kenny Clodfelter, president of the Edwards County Farm Bureau. “Supporting and preserving the best interests of our agricultural communities is part of our mission, and this grant does just that.”
Out of the 30 grants awarded, nine are focused on addressing rural emergency services needs, while the remaining 21 support community and economic development or enhance quality of life in rural areas. The Rural Development Grant Program provides essential resources to help local communities overcome challenges such as limited funding, volunteer shortages, and complex grant applications.
For the 2026 grant program, IFB and COUNTRY Financial invested $100,000 and $20,000, respectively, to support projects that meet critical needs and invigorate rural communities.