Ohio FFA chapter conducts poinsettia research

FORT LORAMIE, Ohio — In order to teach students about photoperiodism, the process of manipulating light and temperature to change the color of specialized leaves, the Fort Loramie FFA received about sixty poinsettia plugs from the Upper Valley Career Center in September for the Plant and Horticulture class to grow. 

In October, the plants needed 15 hours of undisturbed darkness each day for a period of eight weeks. This is what causes the leaves to turn their red hue. 

Throughout the process the students were responsible for watering, pruning, covering and measuring the four types of poinsettias which included: glitter, cinnamon, marble and Prestige red. 

After decorating them with festive décor, the plants were presented at Saint Michael’s Santa Market and Fort Loramie’s Senior Citizens Breakfast. Renee Seger, a student, really enjoyed the experience and trusts it will really benefit her public speech on poinsettias in February.  

Fort Loramie FFA Advisor Matt Pleiman believed his students learned and gained more from this hands-on experience than teaching the same concept from a textbook. 

Grants designed to improve honeybee health 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Bayer CropScience, in partnership with the National FFA Organization, will provide grants in 2015 to inspire interest in agriculture and apiculture professions among America’s youth. The grant program will help FFA members explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers with a focus on finding solutions that will help honey bees thrive. 

As a special project of the National FFA Foundation, Bayer’s investment of $50,000 will go toward three types of grants: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grants, Environmental Chapter grants and State grants.

Environmental and state grants will be awarded in the spring of 2015, and work can begin immediately after notification. SAE grants will be awarded in fall of 2015 for activities to be conducted in 2016. 

For more information about the Bayer and FFA grant program, please visit www.FFA.org

FFA, Colfax programs get 

Farm to School grants

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — The USDA has awarded a combined $150,000 to two Indiana projects connecting school cafeterias with local farmers. This Old Farm, Inc. in Colfax is receiving a $100,000 grant to produce and procure local products for a growing farm-to-school pilot program with two school corporations._

Also, the National FFA Organization based in Indianapolis has received a $50,000 grant to connect local youth producers and FFA members to school food buyers and to host a series of webinars focused on developing state level partnerships.

The Indiana programs are among 82 nationwide the USDA announced will receive more than $5 million in grants. The Farm to School Program helps schools buy more food from local farmers and ranchers, expanding access to healthy local food for schoolchildren.