The Magic Valley Youth Foundation (MVYF), started in 2014 by a group of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho agents who wanted to support youth in the region, was recently recognized for its good works by the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF).

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The ICF ran the article below about the MVYF in its November 2020 online newsletter.

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The Magic Valley Youth Foundation (MVYF) received $10,000 from Chobani’s Community Impact Fund last year and was able to support 26 young people with their business ventures.

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One of those was 13-year-old Kallie Gnesa, an 8th grader at Filer Middle School who owns Free Range Farms, which sells naturally raised poultry in the Magic Valley and Wood River Valley.

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Kallie has received grants from MVYF for four years and grows her business a little more with each grant.

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“I have learned how to raise healthy birds and sell them to the community,” she said. “I picked the slogan ‘Happy birds taste better,’ because I truly believe that.”

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MVYF was started in 2014 by a group of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho agents who wanted to support youth in the region. It is open to young entrepreneurs ages 9-17 and awards up to $500 in start-up grants.

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Karly Wright is a junior at Filer High School and she’s been involved in MVYF for three years. Her MVYF grants allowed her to build a shed she uses year-round to raise and show her lambs.

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“I’ve learned the importance of investing for the long term because it’s going to save me time and money,” she said. “The MVYF has helped me grow as a showman and entrepreneur tremendously.”

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Showing her lambs year-round gave Karly the experience to win Reserve Market Lamb, Grand Champion Breeding Ewe, Grand Champion FFA and 4-H Showman of 2020.

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Neil Hazelbaker is a Farm Bureau Insurance agent and president of the MVYF and said helping students like Kallie and Karly has many rewards.

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“I think I can speak for all involved that it is important for us to be involved with the young people in our community because we can help make a difference in their lives that will extend to their families,” he said. “I believe that is how we measure the value of our lives. Not how much insurance did I sell, but am I a good citizen and have I had a positive impact on the people I meet?”

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Hazelbaker said the students who participate in the program have real-life experiences and are not always successful, which can provide valuable lessons. The cold, snowy winter of 2016-2017 killed all of the honeybees in one grantee’s hives and caused another to realize that he needed more heaters in his pheasant enclosure to keep the chicks from smothering each other as they huddled for warmth.

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Hazelbaker said the students who participate in the competitive program make him optimistic for the future. “There are some incredible young people out there who are willing to work hard and who are ambitious and determined.”

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In Filer, Kallie said she has goals to grow her business to make her poultry more available and affordable to consumers. She also hopes to be able to pay for college.

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“The higher the amount I'm able to produce the more I can lower my production costs,” she said. “I would like to be able to have products available year round so people always have access to a healthier option.”

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Karly has similar goals. “I hope to go to a good college and get my degrees and then get a job in agriculture,” she said. “Or I’ll start my own business and be my own boss!”

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The 2021 applications for the Magic Valley Youth Foundation will open in January.

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WORKS OF HEART

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