By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 18, 2004

At harvest time, the Diocese of Sioux City asks rural parishioners to consider an alternative method to donate to the diocese, a parish or school.

Since the diocese is primarily rural area, farmers have given grain gifts to the diocese in the past and are asked to consider doing so again this year. "Because the Diocese of Sioux City is predominately rural in nature means that we have a great dependence on the health of the farm economy," said Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the diocese. "If the farm economy is growing, then we tend to benefit from that, too, in a number of ways."

For the most part, when some people think of gifting or tithing, they typically think of cash or a check, but in a rural diocese there is the opportunity to think outside the box, commented Wharton.

"What we typically do is talk to the people, talk to the parishioners about ways to give that they may have not thought about," said Wharton. "For a number of people, they have found that giving gifts of grain are beneficial not only to them but also to their diocese, their church or their school."

According to Wharton, it appears for the most part that across the diocese farmers have been reporting strong, positive harvest seasons of great yields this year, so the whole idea of giving grain resurfaces as a possibility for the farmers to consider.

"There are tax implications that come into play when you are gifting grain," said Wharton. "What we always tell people to do, if they are interested in making a gift of grain, they really need to talk to their tax accountant or their tax preparer to make sure that they are taking advantage of the tax laws as it stands today. There are some specific tax codes that relate to the gift of grain. It is really up to them to make sure from their tax person that they are making the gift in the proper fashion."

This is an efficient way for farmers to give to the diocese, explained Wharton. With the Centennial Campaign having about two years left, he added that this would be one way for people to fulfill their pledges.

"We have had some luck with this in the past," said Wharton. "We have had a number of farmers who have decided to do this. God has blessed the farmers this year with an abundant harvest, and it may be a good time for them to consider that. There are a lot of opportunities out there, and we want to make sure people understand that there are ways to do this that are beneficial to both parties."

Other gifts that have been given to the diocese other than money include stamp collections, coin collections, hummel figurines and other collectible items.

"I think it is important if there are farmers out there considering that, that the first call they make is to their tax preparer to make sure they understand the tax code. The second call would be to us to tell us they are interested in making this gift and have gotten the proper advice and counsel. We would make sure that the gift happened," said Wharton.

For more information or to donate a gift of grain, contact the Office of Stewardship and Planned Giving for the Diocese of Sioux City, Wharton or Steve Elbert, at (712) 233-7524.