Hillsdale, MI – January 15, 2026 — The Hillsdale County Community Foundation proudly announces the very first recipients of the Edward L. Kunesh Young Farmer Grant.
HCCF is thrilled to share that Ethan Bognar, Cordell Price and Kade Shiery are the proud recipients of a combined total of $25,000 in grant funding from the Edward L. Kunesh Young Farmer Support Fund! This grant will be awarded each year in honor of Mr. Kunesh’s desire to support agriculture, education and young farmers within the Hillsdale County community.
Edward L. Kunesh was a Litchfield farmer who planned to facilitate opportunities for agriculture-related education and young farmers through the component funds established at The Hillsdale County Community Foundation. The Edward L. Kunesh Young Farmer Support Fund awards grant(s) yearly to young farmers within Hillsdale County, who are between the ages of 18-36. Grant request categories include equipment, livestock, infrastructure and crops.
This year’s winners each have their own unique project to support the development of their farm-related enterprise. Ethan Bognar is acquiring a new Storage Barn for hay, straw and equipment, Cordell Price, of Price Farms & Cattle, LLC, is attaining a Bale Processor to support cattle management operation expansion, and Kade Shiery is purchasing a new Tractor to be used in many different parts of the farm.
The Edward L. Kunesh Young Farmer Support Fund also sponsors agricultural related education and training in Hillsdale County, including the Nutrient Management Field Day, Agriculture Career Day and the Hillsdale County Farm Bureau Safety Day, Stop The Bleed Training.
HCCF extends its sincere gratitude to be able to reinforce Mr. Kunesh’s wishes to foster agriculture-related education and enterprises throughout our county with the collaboration and guidance from local farmers and agriculture professionals who shape our Edward L. Kunesh Young Farmer Grant Committee.
The two other Edward L. Kunesh Funds kept at the HCCF are the Edward L. Kunesh Agricultural Scholarship Fund, which has the purpose of providing a renewable scholarship to a resident of Hillsdale County who seeks an education in the agricultural industry and the Edward L. Kunesh Youth Agricultural Education Fund, which aims to capture an interest in agriculture for the youngest in our community through 4-H program support and funds grants for both FFA State and National competitions.
For more information about Hillsdale County Community Foundation and its ongoing initiatives, please visit www.abouthccf.org. The Hillsdale County Community Foundation was established in 1991 with their slogan, “For good. For ever.” As a community grant-making foundation, it provides seed money to organizations and institutions that have identified problems and have designed constructive action programs aimed at solutions. The majority of the Foundation’s grant making is focused on the areas of youth, leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism.
# # #
Contact:
Samantha Meyer
Program Officer
(517) 439-5101
S.Meyer@abouthccf.org