SD FFA Foundation Awards Grants for Local Service Projects
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Arlington/Doland, SD - The South Dakota FFA Foundation has provided grants of up to $500 each to several FFA chapters across the state to support local service projects. The grants are a special project of the foundation, made possible by donations from the Wayne & Gwynn Hansen Fund and Bawek Trucking.
In a state with over 10,000 high school Agriculture Education students, service is a core value taught through participation in FFA. According to the SD FFA Foundation, state educational budgets are becoming tighter, forcing chapters to make difficult decisions about which activities they can continue. These grants are intended to help local chapters remain focused on student and community development.
"We want to grow community leaders for tomorrow by encouraging FFA members to take an active role in the betterment of their communities and find pride in the communities at the same time," said Gerri Ann Eide, Executive Director of the SD FFA Foundation. "These are valuable educational activities that impact agriculture education students for a lifetime."
Among the chapters receiving funding is Florence, which will use its grant to build and install raised garden beds for elderly residents in its community. This project aligns with the FFA motto, "Living to Serve," which all members learn.
Other chapters receiving grants for their diverse projects include:
Arlington: "Meals of Hope" event to address food insecurity.
Beresford: Developing and delivering agricultural lessons for elementary students.
Doland: "Bingo for Books" event for elementary students and their families.
Ethan: Creating fleece tie blankets for the sheriff's department emergencies.
Hot Springs: Setting up and stocking a school "donation closet" for students in need.
Menno: Building sawhorses for the South Dakota State Fair Poultry Barn.
Philip: Building a shed for the local rodeo grounds.
For more information about the South Dakota FFA Foundation and South Dakota's FFA programs, visit www.sdffafoundation.org.
