The Monsanto Fund announced the winners for the 2013 edition of the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” contest. Farmers in the area of Illinois declared a drought disaster area by the USDA competed for a chance to direct $5,000 to their favorite nonprofit organization.

Counties in non-disaster areas were given $2,500 to share.

In Morgan County, Donna Richardson of Franklin was given the award. Richardson is a teacher at Waverly Grade School, and she says part of her winnings will go to her school district.

“I know all of the budget cuts that the schools have been going through, and I just wanted to give the money to the school because the kids need some things that they’re not able to get without extra money,” says Richardson. “So with the extra money, they’ll be able to do more projects. They can go on more field trips.”

The other half of what Richardson was given by Monsanto will be donated to the Franklin Military Group.

“They really deserve our support in the military,” she says. “They are going overseas, risking their lives for us, and we need to show our appreciation to them.”

In Cass County, Judene Stock of Virginia directed $2,500 to the Cass County Food Pantry and the other half to the Virginia School District Foundation.

In Greene County, Rodney Reif of Carrollton sent his money to the Carrollton School District. Reif says he donated the drought portion of his award to the Thomas H. Boyd Memorial Foundation.

“You know, in a small town, the hospital is vitally important. I lost my wife a year ago [at the hospital. It] was an important part,” he says. “Being there for a smaller community- for the elderly people, for the emergency room, things like that.”

Scott County’s winner was Mark Ryan of Winchester. Monsanto has not yet announced what he will do with the winnings.