In a powerful demonstration of community collaboration and care, the Rocky Mountain District of Kiwanis Foundation (RMDKF) awarded a matching grant to support the Hoehne Little League Football team, a project proudly spearheaded by the Kiwanis Club of Trinidad. With a $2,500 contribution from the Trinidad club and a matching $2,500 from the Foundation, the team received a total of $5,000 to purchase 45 brand-new football helmets for local youth athletes.
The helmets went to children in grades 2 through 6 at Hoehne School, a small K–12 public school located in the heart of Hoehne, Colorado, an unincorporated community just northeast of Trinidad. Known for its agricultural heritage and close-knit spirit, Hoehne is home to families who value hard work, tradition, and community support. Hoehne School serves as a central gathering place for the region, cultivating academic excellence and extracurricular engagement in a rural setting. The school’s mascot, the Farmers, reflects the area’s proud agricultural legacy and the resilience of its people.
Although the team proudly bears the name “Hoehne Farmers,” it is not financially sponsored by Hoehne School. The school generously allows the team to use its name and facilities, but all financial support comes from the parents of the players and the local business community. This model of support speaks volumes about the dedication of families and neighbors who rally behind these young athletes, ensuring they have the resources to play safely and confidently.
As of the 2024–2025 school year, Hoehne School enrolls approximately 105 students in grades K–6, with a significant portion participating in youth sports programs like Little League football. For years, these young athletes played with helmets that were more than two decades old, well beyond the recommended lifespan for protective sports gear. Thanks to this grant, every player now wears a modern helmet designed with advanced safety features that help reduce the risk of head injuries, including concussions.
Concussions remain a serious concern in youth football. According to the CDC, children and teens are more likely than adults to experience prolonged symptoms following a concussion. Repeated head impacts, even those not classified as concussions, can have cumulative effects on brain development. That’s why updated equipment is not just a luxury, but a necessity.
Modern football helmets incorporate innovations such as multi-layered padding, impact-dispersing shells, and improved fit systems that help absorb and redirect force. While no helmet can eliminate the risk entirely, these advancements significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of head trauma.
This initiative reflects the Kiwanis mission to serve children and strengthen communities. By investing in safer equipment, the Kiwanis Club of Trinidad and the Rocky Mountain District Foundation are helping protect young athletes while promoting teamwork, discipline, and the joy of sport.
As the Hoehne Farmers take the field this season, they do so with renewed confidence and with the support of a community that believes in their safety, their potential, and their future.
Notably, the Hoehne Reorganized School District No. 3 spans approximately 1,174 square miles, serving a wide and rural area of Las Animas County, the largest county in Colorado by area. Within this vast district, economic challenges persist: Las Animas County’s poverty rate stands at approximately 17.4%, nearly double the statewide average for Colorado. In this perspective, the generosity of Kiwanis and the local community takes on even greater significance, ensuring that children have access to safe equipment regardless of economic barriers.
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Posted: October 6, 2025 by ED RMDF
Hoehne Farmers Helmets
Trinidad Kiwanis and Foundation Team Up
In a powerful demonstration of community collaboration and care, the Rocky Mountain District of Kiwanis Foundation (RMDKF) awarded a matching grant to support the Hoehne Little League Football team, a project proudly spearheaded by the Kiwanis Club of Trinidad. With a $2,500 contribution from the Trinidad club and a matching $2,500 from the Foundation, the team received a total of $5,000 to purchase 45 brand-new football helmets for local youth athletes.
The helmets went to children in grades 2 through 6 at Hoehne School, a small K–12 public school located in the heart of Hoehne, Colorado, an unincorporated community just northeast of Trinidad. Known for its agricultural heritage and close-knit spirit, Hoehne is home to families who value hard work, tradition, and community support. Hoehne School serves as a central gathering place for the region, cultivating academic excellence and extracurricular engagement in a rural setting. The school’s mascot, the Farmers, reflects the area’s proud agricultural legacy and the resilience of its people.
Although the team proudly bears the name “Hoehne Farmers,” it is not financially sponsored by Hoehne School. The school generously allows the team to use its name and facilities, but all financial support comes from the parents of the players and the local business community. This model of support speaks volumes about the dedication of families and neighbors who rally behind these young athletes, ensuring they have the resources to play safely and confidently.
As of the 2024–2025 school year, Hoehne School enrolls approximately 105 students in grades K–6, with a significant portion participating in youth sports programs like Little League football. For years, these young athletes played with helmets that were more than two decades old, well beyond the recommended lifespan for protective sports gear. Thanks to this grant, every player now wears a modern helmet designed with advanced safety features that help reduce the risk of head injuries, including concussions.
Concussions remain a serious concern in youth football. According to the CDC, children and teens are more likely than adults to experience prolonged symptoms following a concussion. Repeated head impacts, even those not classified as concussions, can have cumulative effects on brain development. That’s why updated equipment is not just a luxury, but a necessity.
Modern football helmets incorporate innovations such as multi-layered padding, impact-dispersing shells, and improved fit systems that help absorb and redirect force. While no helmet can eliminate the risk entirely, these advancements significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of head trauma.
This initiative reflects the Kiwanis mission to serve children and strengthen communities. By investing in safer equipment, the Kiwanis Club of Trinidad and the Rocky Mountain District Foundation are helping protect young athletes while promoting teamwork, discipline, and the joy of sport.
As the Hoehne Farmers take the field this season, they do so with renewed confidence and with the support of a community that believes in their safety, their potential, and their future.
Notably, the Hoehne Reorganized School District No. 3 spans approximately 1,174 square miles, serving a wide and rural area of Las Animas County, the largest county in Colorado by area. Within this vast district, economic challenges persist: Las Animas County’s poverty rate stands at approximately 17.4%, nearly double the statewide average for Colorado. In this perspective, the generosity of Kiwanis and the local community takes on even greater significance, ensuring that children have access to safe equipment regardless of economic barriers.
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