David Fink, owner of the Heidel Hollow family farm in Heidelberg Township, recently won the Lehigh for America's Farmers Grow Communities contest sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.

Fink was a winner in one of the 1,324 counties across 40 states that have eligible farmers.

The winner could present the $2,500 award to a community nonprofit organization of his choice.

For Fink, who is also a township supervisor, that choice was Goodwill Fire Company, Germansville.

Grow Communities is one part of the larger America's Farmers efforts to invest in farming communities.

According to information provided by the Monsanto Fund, for five years, America's Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $16.5 million to more than 7,300 community organizations across rural America.

This year winning farmers will direct another $3.3 million to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life saving fire and EMS equipment, support agricultural youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom supplies and more.

Other America's Farmers programs include America's farmers Grow Rural Education, America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders and America's Farmers Mom of the Year.

Fink said he chose Goodwill Fire Company because of the contributions it makes to the community.

"Everyone should support their local volunteer emergency services," said Fink. "They do so much for the community."

Fink presented the check to the fire company board.

The money will go into the truck fund as the fire company wants to replace a 24-year-old truck, Fire Chief Jay Scheffler said.

Farmers interested in supporting math and science education should visit GrowRuralEducation.com until April 1 to learn how.