HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Members of the Pankow FFA have been practicing the “Living to Serve” statement in the FFA motto by volunteering to work at local food pantries and community gardens in the greater Detroit area.

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from State Farm Insurance, the 100-member chapter will soon be able to put their service into practice every day when they attend horticulture classes. According to instructor Shirley Tautolo, the grant will fund the construction of a high tunnel greenhouse, community garden, a tractor and rototiller, operational funds and will employ a person to oversee the gardens during the summer.

Produce raised in the season-extending structure will be donated to three local food pantries and a portion will be sold at a farmers’ market to make the project self-sustaining in the long term. “State Farm really is a good neighbor,” she said.

According to Tautolo, more than 40 percent of her students are from low- to very low-income families, yet they have rallied around the idea of service learning – providing service or benefit to the community through the learning process. The high tunnel greenhouse will provide a tool for students to learn about food production on a larger scale, while working to grow the produce that will help fill a nutritional void for families in need.

“We are excited to be a part of the local community and make a difference for students and the food banks receiving the food as part of the project,” said Nick Palaian, local State Farm agent. Each year, the company contributes $5 million in grant funds to worthy projects across the nation. Its Youth Advisory Board selects projects for funding that enable service learning.

“The kids are really excited about getting a tractor,” Tautolo said. “They are excited to do anything that takes them out of the classroom and away from paperwork.”

The Pankow horticulture program is a part of the L’anse Creuse school district and draws urban students from neighboring school districts, including a few students from outlying rural areas.

“Only about four or five kids have ever driven a tractor, and everyone will have to complete a tractor safety course before they can drive it,” Tautolo said.

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall. The students have already started spinach in a heated greenhouse with plans to transplant the seedlings into the season-extending structure as their first crop this fall. The goal is to donate 1,000 pounds of food annually to local food pantries.