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AGENCY, IOWA -- The Agency Fire Department received a big gift recently, something that most volunteer fire departments do not usually see.

The department was the recipient of a $2500 grant from the Monsanto Fund. The organization sponsors a program entitled, “America’s Farmers Grow Communities.”

Two Batavia farmers, David and Greg Adam received the grant, and asked that a donation be made to the Agency Fire Department.

Agency Fire Chief Mike Holcomb told KTVO Wednesday that he was very excited when he heard the news, being that his department had been wanting to purchase a “Reach and Rescue” tool for water and ice rescues.

“Two farmers on the eastern side of our county applied for this grant. And when they received the grant, Monsanto contacted me and said, ‘Hey, you have $2,500 coming to you.’ I thought, ‘wow,’ we just looked at this thing and it ranges from $2,500 to $3,000 for the unit,” said Chief Holcomb.

The equipment is not only for the Agency Fire Department; Chief Holcomb says that he wants to share it with other departments in Wapello County.

“This is open for any of the fire departments to use. They can use it in training and in service. All they need to do is contact me if there is an emergency. This is going to be kept in the fire station, rather than on one of the vehicles. Therefore we can run to the fire station and get it, or another neighboring department can come to the station to pick it up and use it,” stated Chief Holcomb.

The piece of equipment actually costs more than the received grant. Chief Holcomb says that the company they purchased the “Reach and Rescue” from actually covered the remaining cost so his department could purchase the unit with the fund available.