The Midway FFA Chapter has been awarded a $5,000 program improvement grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. These funds will be used to purchase fencing materials and to construct fencing for a six acre animal land lab behind the school.
During its 2011 grant cycle, the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission awarded a grant of $180,540 to the North Carolina FFA Association to distribute for its Agricultural Education Improvement Initiative. A total of 34 grants, with awards of up to $5,000 each, have been directed to schools across North Carolina. Enhancing agricultural teaching programs, developing innovative projects and purchasing much-needed classroom equipment are just some of the goals of the programs.
“The approximately 200 active agriculture students and many more to follow will benefit greatly from this improvement grant. We are so please that we were selected to receive this grant. There are so many programs across the state who are so deserving. We just feel so fortunate that our students will receive the benefit from it” said Stuart Daughtery.
The NC FFA is a youth organization of more than 19,300 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture, with 253 local chapters across the state.
“These grants will enable our teachers to invest resources in a number of critical areas, from equipment and facilities to new course development,” said State Agricultural Education Leader Joshua Bledsoe. “We are extremely grateful to the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for sharing our vision and making possible tremendous opportunities for students throughout the state.”
The NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission was created in 2000 by the NC General Assembly to administer part of the funds from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the state and major tobacco companies. Since then, the agency has funded over 100 different projects which have touched nearly all NC farmers.
“We’re excited to be a partner with the FFA,” said William Upchurch, executive director of the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. “This is a great opportunity for students and teachers to feature innovative and creative projects designed to strengthen Agricultural Education. These students represent the future of agriculture in North Carolina.”
FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit http://www.ncffa.org for more information.
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