Butler Eagle File Photo

Nearly a year after the July 13, 2024, Trump rally shooting on the Butler Farm Show grounds, the farm show is looking to show its thanks and play a larger community role through a newly developed grant.

The Butler Farm Show Community Outreach Grant is taking applications through June 30, according to a news release. Individuals, organizations or businesses interested in improving quality of life in the Butler area may be eligible to receive funds from the grant.

Butler Farm Show board member Jordan Kennedy said he, alongside much of the Butler Farm Show board, were amazed by the “amount of passion, heroism and desire to help one another” exhibited by the community during and after the shooting.

He said the grant serves as the farm show’s part in helping the community face adversity. The grant also acts as the next step in the farm show’s goal of uniting the community, he said.

“If you look at our history, the farm show was founded on bringing people together,” Kennedy said. “The city folks and the farmers got together and shared ideas. The grant will let us continue to celebrate that.”

“In the months following the devastating tragedy that occurred in July at the grounds, the Butler County community proved itself a resilient and reliable support to the Butler Farm Show family,” the release said. “We cannot express our gratitude to all first responders, the state police, other agencies and individuals who provided helping hands to the organization in a multitude of different ways.”

Some examples provided for grant applications include first responders who need classes; fire departments purchasing equipment; projects to make a business or office handicap accessible; feeding or sheltering homeless people; or providing mental health services.

Those interested in applying can receive an application by emailing slefever@butlerfarmshow.com or by going to the farm show’s Facebook page.