The Lilly Endowment recently awarded Alaina Kessler of the North Decatur FFA a National FFA Classroom Enhancement Grant of $10,000.
This grant is part of an initiative in which 33 Indiana agricultural education programs were selected to receive funding. The grant supports agricultural education programs and FFA chapters by providing resources for upgrading, repairing, or purchasing equipment to enhance agricultural education delivery. Additionally, these funds may be used to expand agricultural education to underrepresented and marginalized students.
“This grant will enable us to acquire seven Husky Tool Storage Mobile Workbench Cabinets and sixteen stools, significantly enhancing the learning environment in our agricultural shop. These workbenches will serve a dual purpose, offering both tool storage and flexibility in the workplace. In addition, we will introduce two tower gardens, allowing students to actively engage in hydroponic agriculture and seed propagation. With this funding, our agricultural program will be better equipped to deliver hands-on,
practical experiences that prepare students for real-world applications in mechanics and plant science.” – Miss Kessler
These grants, through the partnership between the National FFA Organization and the Lilly Endowment, ensure that Indiana agricultural education remains innovative and a place where all students can belong.
For more information about the National FFA Organization and its programs, visit www.ffa.org.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization with more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
