Helping FFA Help Others

The Hinsdale FFA Chapter has several service learning projects. Service learning projects include participation of mentors, community members, advisers and chapter members.

The Hinsdale School Root Cellar, Hinsdale Edible Schoolyard and the Hinsdale School Healthy Vending Machine are three examples of service projects. These projects have been developed to improve the school, the community, and its members by encouraging people to plant local foods (gardens), offer healthier foods to eat, and serving local foods at school.

The projects have been funded by many helpful grants and scholarships. The Valley County Conservation District mini grant, the Soroptimist Classroom Improvement Grant, National FFA Food For All grant, and the Montana Farm Bureau mini grant have made these projects possible.

The healthy vending machine is offering school students and staff the opportunity to purchase inexpensive healthy snacks before and after school. The Ag-Ed department is adding fruit trees, pumpkins, and squash to create an edible school yard. The students are planting apple, pear and plum trees for Earth Day. The school's root cellar is going to be used to store potatoes, carrots, winter squash, and fruit to be used during the winter.

The FFA chapter and its members appreciate all of the support for these projects. Such thoughtfulness allows us to set goals and provides the means to accomplish them.

Patti Armbrister is adviser of the Hinsdale FFA Chapter.