This week, the Fonda-Fultonville FFA chapter was notified it was the recipient of a $4,965 grant from the Grants for Growing program. The nationwide program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, provides grant funds to local FFA chapters to support the development or improvement of agricultural education projects that enhance the classroom experience for students through chapter engagement activities.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have been awarded this grant,” said Fonda-Fultonville High School Agriculture & FFA Advisor Jessica Holmes. “We are excited to utilize the funds to continue expanding our students experiences in FFA while creating connections throughout our school community.”
Fonda-Fultonville FFA plans to use the funds granted to improve the current high tunnel greenhouse on campus. We will be putting in a fertilizer and irrigation system, along with raised beds, and utilizing it for crop and floral production. Students will use the high tunnel greenhouse as a trial garden to research and examine the difference between raised beds and growing directly in the soil. The goal of the project is to provide students with hands-on, interactive learning that they can implement in real life and their future careers.
The Grants for Growing program provided approximately $870,000 to FFA chapters in 42 states. Funding is provided through consumer donations made during checkout at a Tractor Supply Company store by purchasing a $1 FFA Paper Emblem. The fundraising period aligns with National FFA Week in February.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.