The Horace Maynard FFA is a very busy chapter. Recently, the chapter was awarded a Yearlong Living to Serve Grant in the amount of $3,000 from the National FFA Organization. This nationwide program provides grant money to local FFA chapters to support yearlong service learning projects that address needs related to community safety, environmental responsibility, hunger, health and nutrition, and community engagement. The program provided over $260,000 to FFA chapters in thirty two states.

Chapter member and chairman of the project, Summer Beeler, with advisors John Fugate and Bailey Licata, wrote the grant so that the Horace Maynard FFA Chapter will help to address poverty issues across Union County by raising fruits and vegetables in the chapter greenhouse and at a local farm. The FFA students will work first hand to see the project through. They will grow and distribute the harvest to local families in need of the assistance, working towards their goal to alleviate poverty.

Planting has already begun and is still taking place. A wide variety of fresh vegetables are being grown such as staple vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, greens, and those of the likeness. It will be a year round project with the giveaways happening monthly. The grant will cover any expenses incurred during the project. So far the funds have been used to buy seeds, supplies, and advertisements, and will soon be used for travel expenses for deliveries and equipment.

The chapter will host some workshops throughout the year to address the concerns in the community and welcome more folks to become involved. They will host food banks and deliver as needed.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth, and care success training through agriculture education to 653,359 student members who belong to one of 8,568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Help the local Horace Maynard FFA chapter work in fighting hunger across Union County. If you are interested in volunteering, or know someone who could benefit from this program, please contact 865-992-5232 or John.Fugate@ucps.org.