INDIANAPOLIS — The Norwayne FFA chapter, of Creston, Ohio has been awarded $1,076 as part of the Grants for Growing program. The nationwide program provides grant funds to local FFA chapters to support the development or improvement of agricultural education projects that enhance the classroom experiences for students through chapter engagement activities.
Norwayne FFA plans to use these funds to advance their beekeeping program for their members. The program has one year under its belt with keeping a beehive on the school grounds, and these funds will help the chapter purchase supplies, such as bee jackets, hive tools and a honey extractor.
During the school year, the plant and animal science class, consisting of mainly freshmen students, is put in charge of this beehive and maintains it during the different seasons. At the end of the school year the beehives provide students who are interested an opportunity to take care of the bees as their Supervised Agricultural Experience.
The goal is to have two or three hives at the school and to provide students with expansion hives to bring home with them, if they choose to do so. The program provided approximately $548,000 to FFA chapters in 47 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.
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CALEDONIA, Ohio — River Valley FFA welcomed the freshmen to ag classes Aug. 8. Freshmen students have already completed a dirt project that involves identifying characteristics of the dirt from their own homes.
Juniors and seniors have started working on the hydroponics system and cleaning up the shop. The sophomore class has started talking about animals and will be starting their project soon. All of the officer team members are looking forward to working with the freshmen, and to Farm Science Review, FFA week and upcoming projects for the year.
