Black Canyon Elementary in Grace has installed a gym divider curtain that opens up practice space, especially during winter months.

In rural schools, funding and school practice space are always a struggle especially when buildings serve the school district as well as youth sports and community programs.

Jordan Stoddard of Stoddard Farms sought funding to maximize gym space at Black Canyon Elementary. Community members came together with area agriculture businesses including Idaho AgCredit and Stotz Equipment.

Stoddard worked with the Grace School District over the past year on installation logistics. In March, an electric-operated divider curtain was installed in the school’s gym, allowing the space to be split in half.

This fall, the addition enabled more efficient scheduling for simultaneous use and allows little league volleyball and basketball to safely run two games at the same time.

The project, valued at more than $20,000 for materials and labor, was fully funded through donations at no cost to the school district.

Stotz Equipment of American Falls contributed nearly 75% of the total funding. Additional support came from AgWest Farm Credit’s Rural Community Grant, Idaho AgCredit, Jake and Natalie Nichols of Helena Chemicals and Grace Little Basketball.

Richard Smith of Grace Valley provided electrical expertise for wiring and operation.

Dana Wood, CFO of Idaho AgCredit, said, “We are always happy to support the communities where our farmer and rancher customers live. We were honored when Jordan Stoddard called asking for help to make Black Canyon Elementary gym more useful for more students. It was a great idea that we were proud to help make a reality.”

Stoddard added, “We have great partners in the agriculture world who love helping our small communities, including us here in Caribou County. The smoothest part of this project was the funding. There were so many people excited to help fund this curtain addition with the goal of 100% private funding. And that’s exactly how it turned out.”