The Birky family farm has been passed down from generation to generation. Likewise, have the values of faith, family and philanthropy.
“This farm in Morgan Township has been in our family for more than 100 years,” Chris Birky said. “Opportunities were created by our grandfather, and we are grateful to be able to continue this family tradition.”
With a will to keep their forefathers’ profession and tradition alive, brothers Chris and Greg Birky remain active within the Porter County farming community, from serving on local ag boards, to being involved in 4-H.
And, thanks to the establishment of the Porter County Community Foundation’s Gift of Grain program, the Birky brothers have doubled-down on their commitment—with each bushel of corn or beans they donate.
“In the fall, I usually designate a portion of the first or last load of my harvest to the Gift of Grain program,” Chris said. With Greg adding, “It’s simple. I have the grain, and I’m already hauling it there (Keystone Cooperative Grain Elevator). It just makes sense to give back.”
With each donation, the Birkys are not only embracing the power of generosity but cultivating and tending to their age-old profession. Thanks to an agreement with the local elevator, the donated grain is immediately sold, with proceeds sent to the Community Foundation for deposit into the Agriculture Community Initiative Fund.
The impact is two-fold, as half of the funding is allocated to an endowment, serving as a permanent resource to grow for the future; the other half remains available to support agricultural educational programs in Porter County schools.
“There are fewer and fewer farming families in the area,” Chris said. “And because of this, we feel it’s important to keep this profession alive. This is one way we can help to change that. There are a lot of career and vocational opportunities in the ag industry that kids don’t even have a connection to, but once exposed, they realize they have an interest.”
Where there is a will, there is often a “why.” And for Chris and Greg, their ultimate “why”—the reason they give—is grounded in their unwavering faith.
“You can’t out-gift God,” Chris attests. “This is our opportunity to return our blessings.”
The Birkys are grateful to have found a way, through the Porter County Community Foundation, to connect their profession with their passion. By entrusting the Foundation, they too, much like their forefathers, are planting roots for the next generation of farmers, and philanthropists.
