Bank gives 4-H Chuckwagon a $50,000 boost

The effort to raise $400,000 for a new 4-H Chuckwagon for the Great Northern Fairgrounds is three-quarters of the way home thanks to a donation Tuesday.

Independence Bank contributed $50,000 in the form of an oversized check to the cause in a brief ceremony outside the bank.

Independence Bank President Miles Hamilton presented the check to a crowd of 4-H members and leaders.

The check was symbolic. The bank has already donated $25,000 and promised another $25,000 at groundbreaking, an event that 4-H hopes will be held later this year.

"We're inching closer to groundbreaking," said Karla Vaughn, a Chuckwagon Committee member.

Stacey Waid, another committee member, said Hill County 4-H is now just short of the $300,000 mark. More efforts to raise funds will take place during the upcoming Great Northern Fair, she said.

Once the sufficient amount of money is raised, the decades-old Chuckwagon at the fair will be demolished and the work on the new Chuckwagon will begin.

Hamilton said the bank is glad to support 4-H because of its agricultural roots.

"Independence Bank is happy to support agriculture on the Hi-Line," he said.

Financially backing 4-H is a "no-brainer" for the bank, he said, because of what it does for farming in the area.

Tickets for a 2015 Flex Travel Trailer donated by Western Trailer Sales  will be raffled off by 4-H during the fair. The drawing will be held Sunday, the final day for the fair.