A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the communities of Lamar, Liberal and Golden City.
Since our founding on September 10, 2015, Barton County Community Foundation has distributed more than $7.8 million in grants to the community. We now hold assets totaling $8,994,407 as of June 30, 2024.
Shelly Haag, President
July 17, 2025 — Youth in Barton County have increased access to the art of chicken raising thanks to a local businessman whose donation is supplying them with coops and tools for success.
Danny Little, owner of Redneck Blinds in Lamar, Missouri, provided funding to purchase about 52 chicken coops that were given to local families.
“I believe it’s important for kids to learn about animal husbandry. Especially in today’s world, equipping area youth to raise chickens is a way to be self-sufficient,” says Little, who was raised in Barton County. “I grew up learning these skills, and I know how important they can be and want other kids to have the same opportunity I had to learn about them. They’re skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.”
Little granted $117,000 over the last 12 months from his Barton County Community Foundation donor-advised fund to the MU Extension in Barton County to pay for the coops. The extension office then distributed them to kids, including those in the rural-skills-based 4-H education program — which Little participated in during his youth.
“He really is generous with the entire community, but here’s super generous with 4-H,” says Elaine Davis, youth program specialist with the Barton County extension office which oversees 4-H. “He loves to share with the kids. He wants them to have things (they need).”
The White family of rural Barton County were one of the coop recipients. Sisters Kirsyn and Eve were learning about chickens on their family farm but gained an advantage when the new coop gave them a better place to raise their birds. The coop also fits in with their efforts to collect and sell eggs.
“Now we have our own coop so we have our chickens by themselves,” says Kirsyn, who says the coop is better because it’s larger, easier to clean and offers protection from predators.
“They’re healthier, and they all have their own space,” she says of the birds. “A chicken — if they’re not happy, their tails kind of stay down, but these guys always have their tails up, so I think they’re happy.”
Little’s donations support an increasing focus on poultry work across the region: A new poultry, rabbit and cavy show drew nearly 100 birds from across the region to Lamar in October 2024. Organizers are looking forward to 2025 and increasing knowledge and interest in agricultural pursuits.
“We’re just excited for families like the Whites to step up and do things, learn, and then share it with others,” Davis says.
April 24, 2025 — Nancy Curless received the Fred Lemons Achievement Award in recognition for her outstanding contributions to the Barton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
Curless was recognized for holding a vision for the affiliate board from its inception to its 10-year anniversary in 2025. As BCCF’s longest-serving board member, she has remained dedicated to creating and impressing its mission. She
Curless received the Fred Lemons Achievement Award, which includes a $1,500 grant from the Lemons Family to supplement BCCF’s annual grantmaking. The award is named for the late president of the Lockwood Community Foundation, who demonstrated remarkable leadership during his 15-year tenure until his death in 2014.
This award was part of the CFO’s annual recognition of affiliates and affiliate leaders, presented April 10 prior to the Rural Philanthropy Summit. The conference, cohosted by the CFO and Philanthropy Missouri, was held April 11 at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. For a full list of honorees and grant recipients, visit cfozarks.org/affiliates2025.
“We believe that place-based philanthropy can be transformative for a community, but it requires passionate leaders to make that transformation possible,” said Alice Wingo, vice president of affiliates for the CFO. “We are grateful that these forward-thinking leaders volunteer so much of their time and energy to improve the quality of life for everyone in their communities.”
The application period for affiliate community grantmaking programs are open at various times through the year.
