Cooperatives Donate To Assist Schools In Paying For Shot Clocks
If there’s one thing that any local cooperative can agree on, it’s the power of the cooperative spirit and strengthening hometown communities.
The Montana High School Association recently mandated the implementation of a shot clock at all high school basketball games. These shot clocks can bring an intense dynamic to any game, but this implementation also brought some budgeting challenges to rural communities. Local cooperatives are always looking for ways to have a long-lasting, measurable impact on the communities they serve.
Seeing the large need, local cooperatives CHS Farmers Elevator, Ag Partners LLC and Agland Cooperative harnessed the power of cooperation to help out local school districts. Together, they have donated $45,000 to help offset some of the expenses of the shot clocks. Local schools each receiving $5,000 toward the purchase of shot clocks include Wolf Point, Poplar, Lustre, Nashua, Richey, Glasgow, Glendive, Circle and Scobey.
“Together, we’re creating connections to empower agriculture. Cooperative spirit is about working together for shared success and strengthening our communities,” David Miller, general manager of CHS Farmers Elevator, said. “When this initiative was brought to us, it was a resounding ‘yes’ to support. There are a few things about small town communities that bring everyone together and one of these is high school sports.”
The cooperatives worked together to come up with a plan to support all of the local communities served while making a larger impact.
“I’m proud of Ag Partners LLC and Agland coming together with CHS Farmers Elevator to demonstrate the value to working together to grow, thrive and build our small-town communities,” Miller said. “This will lighten the burden of the shot clock cost on the local schools and bring a new element to high school basketball.”
