$50,000 To Those Affected by Morrill-Cottonwood Fires

Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust and FHLBank Topeka Award $50,000 to Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Morrill-Cottonwood Fires

Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust and FHLBank Topeka will award $50,000 to the farmers and ranchers affected by the Morrill-Cottonwood fires in Western Nebraska. Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust received a matching grant to support their efforts through FHLBank Topeka’s Community Assistance Recovery Effort (CARE) Program.

The funds will be used to assist in purchasing and transporting hay and supplies to farmers and ranchers in western Nebraska who were affected by wildfires that spread in March following historically dry conditions and strong winds.

As a member of FHLBank Topeka, Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust has access to products and services to help their community thrive. The CARE Program was created in 2025 to help FHLBank member financial institutions support their communities after a FEMA-declared disaster. The program matches $3 for every $1 of the $12,500 EVB contributed to the disaster relief efforts.

“Community financial institutions are at the forefront of supporting their communities through difficult times. We designed the CARE Program to amplify the contributions our members are making when a natural disaster occurs,” said Jeff Kuzbel, President and CEO of FHLBank Topeka.