Helping Grow FFA Chapters

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the Montana Farmers Union Magazine Winter 2025 issue.

Nashua FFA members are taking agriculture out of this world, experimenting to learn what vegetables grow best in space to provide astronauts with healthy diets.

Since 2016, Fairchild Tropic Botanic Garden has worked with scientists at Kennedy Space Center to advance research on growing plants in space to supplement astronauts’ diets for optimal nutrition and Nashua’s FFA students are now helping too.

“Nashua has joined this exciting research journey to identify food crops and optimal growing conditions for long-duration space travel,” said Nashua FFA Advisor Tracy Cumber.

To perform the work, Nashua FFA purchased a growing chamber to collect data on various protocols for NASA, which was made possible with a $2,500 New Chapter Sponsorship from Montana Farmers Union.

Since Jan. 1, 2022, MFU has offered $2,500 New Chapter Sponsorships to help with startup costs. Florence, Frenchtown, Harrison, Havre, Augusta, Belt Valley, Scobey, Nashua, Whitehall, Drummond, Winnett, Lavina and Jordan FFA chapters have received sponsorships so far.

The ongoing sponsorship program is a natural extension of MFU’s longstanding support of FFA, including as lead sponsor during convention, providing both financial support and leadership opportunities for members and filling financial needs for special projects.

“This program emerged from our annual grant program where we give out over $30,000 through the MFU Foundation to rural community projects. Our Board of Directors recognzied how many FFA programs were applying for funds to help them get up and going or achieve some amazing projects. They decided to split those out and start this new opportunity to both help those new chapters that don’t have the fundraising mechanisms in place yet and inspire other schools to consider starting their own by reducing the initial hurdle by $2,500,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said. “The success has been felt across the state, and its’ wonderful to see so many of the recipient chapters engaged and strengthening Montana’s agricultural future.”

Overall, Montana FFA boasts 111 chapters with roughly 7,000 members with interest in the program that provides skills in agriculture and the trades increasing said Curt Robbins, Montana FFA Foundation’s Executive Director: “People are just surprised at how much diversity and how much we have to offer students,” Robbins said.

A hurdle to forming or reforming chapters is the cost of creating modern learning environments and MFU’s sponsorship funding goes a long way in purchasing materials and other program needs.

“The teachers can really use it to their benefit wherever they see it’s most beneficial,” Robbins said.

Chapters have used the funding for everything from jackets for members to covering the costs of traveling to competitions to helping fund projects like greenhouses.

“I am very grateful for Montana Farmers Union support,” said David Kennedy, a Nashua student and FFA officer. “We have expanded our hydroponics plants to our raised garden beds and continue to expand our farm-to-school opportunities.”

The Nashua Chapter formed in 2023 after roughly 70 years of agriculture not being included in the school’s curriculum. As part of the chapter’s work, they implemented a farm-to-school program. Because of harsh weather variables in the area, several vegetables are grown with hydroponics.

The classroom hydroponics system allows students to apply theory to real world context, learning about sustainable growing practices and gaining a deeper appreciation of plans’ nutritional value.

Cumber said she want students to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences about agriculture they can use once they graduate. “They will need to understand the science behind agriculture and how to apply those concepts to ensure continued growth and properity for everyone.”

Already, Kennedy has gained a sense of belonging and leadership skills from the FFA program.

“I hope to extend my knowledge about agriculture and the animals I take care of and watch over. I will use this information when I take over my family ranch to help better the operation for future generations,” he said.

Montana Farmers Union will continue its support of new chapters.

“This sponsorship opportunity is perpetual with no-strings-attached funding available to any new FFA chapter,” Rains said. “IF they do the hard work of getting a new chapter chartered and up and going, Montana Farmers union has their back and will help them hit the ground running.”