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Projects: Opportunity in Community
Success begins where your comfort zone ends. These projects started with me thinking of new ideas on how to connect and support the members in your community while spreading the importance of agriculture. Sometimes even the littles things mean the most- a simple thank you. Instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you, create your own!
Harvest Happiness: Thank a Farmer
A online form anyone can submit a quick thank you letter, to different type of farmers within our community. These were created to support our farmers while dealing with the stress of holiday season right before Christmas. This project was open to anyone for only two days (a last minute idea, but my favorite one), and ended with 30 letters getting sent all around the state of Florida. I used this chance to educate others: 2% Of the US Population are farmers that feed the 100%, with a 60% higher chance of anxiety and depression due to hard work and stress levels to provide for us. This was created through Elegant In Ag.
A Barnyard Christmas
A event a Fellow Chapter Officer and I visited Children's Hospitals, gifted them with all fun goodies and agriculture education materials. As they have had no chance to learn what agriculture is like we do in FFA, we brought it to them to also brighten up their day. These bags included a Livestock Stuffed Animals, stickers, pens, crayons, cups, coloring items, Ag Ed materials, letters from students in our Ag room and lastly a QR code. The QR sent them to a website I created, they could learn all about the livestock they were gifted, ask questions, play online games and be entertained with the idea of agriculture. Fundraised through Zephyrhills Sr FFA.
Keep the Change
After two hurricanes hit my hometown, My Chapter funded supplies to go out and support those without electricity and washing clothes at local laundromat's. We passed out bags that included all types of laundry materials with change to help those in need. Hosted by Zephyrhills FFA
Local Elementary Schools come to our Ag Field to learn through Ag Lit. Bringing our livestock, class animals, and Ag Lit books, we read to the students about production. Examples include Potatoes (French fries), Peanuts (Peanut Butter and Jelly), and Dairy (Ice cream). We bring our livestock and chapter animals, teaching them about production of meat, by-products, terminally and what livestock shows look like. I love Ag Lit Dat as kids have shocked faced when they find out where marshmallows come from! While teaching young students it is entertaining as you must connect agriculture to their level of understanding and interest. We also gave them Reading Buddies, Rye Seed Plant with their decorated Pot. ''The more you read the more their hair grows!''
Ag Literacy Day!
Donation Drives
There is always someone in need of some support. Throughout the year, my Chapter hosts many drives to collect and donate to those who are less fortunate. Including Thomas Promise: Let's Can Hunger, The Giving Tree, Blessing Boxes, Socks for Seniors, Stuff the Stockings, Annual Food Drives, Feminine Hygiene and more! Donated by Zephyrhills FFA
Cemetary Clean Up
At a local cemetary, right next to our school barn was devastatingly ruined after two hurricanes hit our town. My chapter decided for us to visit and clean up the site. It only took a couple days after school, but was much needed!
Thanking First Responders
After these hurricanes hit, our first responders did all they could to support us and hold our town together during this time. We decorated baskets filled with goodies as we visited our local Police Station, Fire Department and The City Office as a small token of appreciation for all they have done.