Texas farmers turn 640 acres of donated land into college scholarships for 300 students

Farmland donated to a Texas school district in 1984 now funds college scholarships for hundreds of students A piece of farmland donated to a small Texas school district more than four decades ago is now helping hundreds of students pay for higher education. In Gruver, a town in the Texas Panhandle, local farmers volunteer their time, machinery and farming skills to grow crops on 640 acres of donated land. The harvests generate approximately $400,000 annually for scholarships. Since the programme began awarding money in 2016, nearly $3 million has reportedly reached around 300 students.According to Texas Today, the initiative began with a decision made by Karl Nielsen, a Danish immigrant who settled in Gruver in 1901. Nielsen never married and spent much of his life living with his sister. He remained in the town until his death in 1984, at the age of 105. Before his death, he decided to leave 640 acres, equivalent to one square mile, to the Gruver Independent School District.For several years, the school district earned about $25,000 annually by leasing the property. The money helped purchase educational supplies, including books and science equipment. However, the land's potential...