First State Bank is pledging $100,000 over the next 5 years to the capital fund campaign of the Legacy of the Plains Museum…formed by the merger of the North Platte Valley and Farm and Ranch Museums

Legacy of the Plains is looking to raise $3-million dollars for a new building at the former Farm and Ranch site, home of the merged museums, which will allow the current steel building to be used for large exhibits. Close to a million dollars in pledges has been received so far.

. The announcement of the First State Bank pledge was made Thursday in a check presentation by Bank President Mike Downey and CEO Marv Hefti to museum leaders Nancy Haney, Dennis Wiedeman and Dr. George Schlothauer.

Schlothauer, co-chair of the capital committee, says such a pledge is an “incredibly important investment” that will assist committee efforts to gain grants and other private donations.

Downey says First State Bank believes merging the two museums was a great idea that will help tell the history of agriculture and its importance to the area.