BATH — A local farmer is giving back to the school that made a lifelong impact.

Bath High School Preservation was recently selected to receive a $2,500 donation from the Monsanto Fund on behalf of George “Buddy” Ross III.

Because Ross Farms purchases Monsanto products, Ross was able to participate in the Monsanto Fund grant program, the philanthropic arm of the global agriculture company. Ross selected BHSP to receive the donation through America’s Farmers Grow Communities, which recognizes farmers’ contributions to their communities by supporting local organizations, according to a press release from BHSP secretary Claudia Alligood.

Ross has close ties to the school — he graduated from Bath High School in 1974.

“There were lots of people there — teachers, principals and friends — that have been a big influence on my life,” Ross said.

The school opened in 1921 and students from first to 11^th grades, and kindergarten through 12^th grades, were taught there over its 68 years. It was closed in 1989 and stood empty for many years, until it was slated for demolition. That’s when a group of enterprising Bath High School alumni decided to save the school, creating Bath High School Preservation and raising funds to renovate the school into a community draw. It’s now home to the Bath Community Library and a gallery/event space. The next phase of development is restoring the old auditorium, according to Alligood.

Ross said the donation was simply his way of helping build the Old Bath High School back up again.