COLUMBUS, Ohio – Each year, FFA chapters across Ohio submit project proposals to fund programs designed to build sustainable relationships and programs that will help their local communities. The grants are funded by Heritage Cooperative, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Trillium Farms.

Each grant recipient works in collaboration with local organizations to complete these agriculture-focused projects varying from educational programs to food production and donations.

At the end of 2024, a total of 19 chapters received such grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. All chapters completed their projects between fall of 2024 and summer of this year.

The 2024 grant recipients were Allen East FFA, Bloom-Carroll FFA, Circleville-PRCTC FFA, Eaton-MVCTC FFA, Evergreen FFA, Green-SCCTC FFA, Indiana Lake-OHP FFA, Marysville FFA, Mechanicsburg FFA, Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA, Mowrystown FFA, National Trail-MVCTC FFA, Piketon FFA, Plymouth FFA, Ridgewood FFA, Southern Local FFA, Talawanda-Butler Tech FFA, Twin Valley South-MVCTC FFA and Zane Trace FFA.

The Circleville-based chapter in Pickaway County used the grant to construct a small barn to house chickens as part of a hands-on agricultural education project. The chapter partnered with third grade classes at Circleville Elementary to learn about chicken development and husbandry as they hatched chicks. The members conducted feed trials and donated the processed chickens to the local food pantry.

“Being able to raise these chickens has created a hands-on experience for all students to develop responsibility skills in and outside of the classroom,” chapter president Amelia Tarbill said.

The Evergreen FFA in Fulton County created a Thankful Thanksgiving event exemplifying the spirit of community and giving back. Their project goal was to provide meals for families facing economic challenges.

Members started by organizing a food drive that collected turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, beans, carrots, beets, stuffing, butter and milk. The group’s promotion strategy included colorful posters displayed throughout the Evergreen school district.

Evergreen FFA members then transformed their ag building into an assembly line where they packaged the meals for households, then delivered them to those families.

The Southern Local FFA in Columbiana County received $3,500 in grant funds, using the money to build a hydroponics-based food production system. The system was used to grow fruits and vegetables in the classroom, with the remaining produce used in the school’s cafeteria.

“We worked in collaboration with the Columbiana County OSU Extension office to build this food production system,” said FFA Adviser Shelley Pirogowicz. “We’ve used it to learn about plant science and food preparation and preservation. It applied to our agronomics and food science classes, where 40 agriculture education students participated.”

The students grew a variety of lettuce, green beans, broccoli, green onions and cilantro.

“The project taught students about alternative plant cultivation methods and food preservation techniques that could be applied both at school and at home,” Pirogowicz said.

At Indian Lake High School FFA in Logan County, seniors Meya Karbowiak and Justin Zimmerman raised 52 turkeys in their FFA barn. The poults arrived last summer and Karbowiak, Zimmerman and other chapter members tended to the growth of the birds continuously.

“We learned right away that the turkeys were going to be more difficult than we thought, so we had to come up with strategies to keep them safe and healthy,” Zimmerman said.

“We learned that they like to attack each other. So that’s something that we had to work around a lot,” Karbowiak said.

In early November the turkeys were processed. Half the turkeys were sold ahead of Thanksgiving while the other half were donated to a local food bank to feed area families over the holidays.

National Trail FFA in Preble County with its “Bags of Hope” initiative, provided families in the county with 50 bags of non-perishable ingredients during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Each bag included ingredients and recipes for two casserole meals.

“Generally, we work through the National Trail district but this time they went to every school district in the county,” school agriculture educator Eric Kennel said. “We also work with different organizations, companies and foundations to generate the funds for this project. Our community liaisons in our school districts work with families so they can get those out.”

Allen East FFA in Allen County incubated chicken eggs with third and fourth grade classes. The chickens were processed and donated to a local food pantry.

Bloom-Carroll FFA in Fairfield County hosted a week-long day camp for students in kindergarten through fifth grade while those at the Mowrystown FFA in Highland County offered a three-day camp where kids learned about agriculture and FFA through hands-on activities.

Eaton-MVCTC FFA in Preble County hosted an Ag STEM Day for all Preble County third grade students, teaching students about the importance of agriculture.

Green-SCCTC FFA in Scioto County created an outdoor land lab with raised garden beds to learn how to plant, care for, and harvest produce.

Indian Lake-OHP FFA in Logan County raised market turkeys, donating them to local families in need, while Mechanicsburg FFA in Champaign County raised vegetable starter plants to give to community members in need.

Marysville FFA in Union County, Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA in Fayette County and Talawanda-Butler Tech FFA in Butler County targeted farmers with their efforts. Marysville members prepared farmer gift bags filled with supplies like sunscreen, hand wipes, lip balm and first aid kits, while Miami Trace students handed out gift bags and included a meal of appreciation. Talawanda-Butler Tech students provided farmers with fire safety supplies and materials pertaining to mental health.

Piketon FFA in Pike County created a one-acre pumpkin patch, then hosted a Pumpkin Education Community Day with lots of activities.

Plymouth FFA in Richland County taught students about being prepared for emergency situations, teaching first aid skills and creating their own emergency car kits.

Richwood FFA in Coshocton County purchased hogs from the country fair, processed the meat from the animals and donated the meat to local food banks.

Twin Valley South-MVCTC FFA in Preble County created the Panther Depot to supply in-need students with hygiene items, and Zane Trace FFA in Ross County raised broilers and laying hens as well as vegetables and herbs. Their meat and vegetables were donated to the local food pantry.