LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
For members of the Shiloh FFA, giving back to the community’s farmers is more than just a simple tradition. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the chapter spent its morning preparing and delivering lunches to local farmers at the Paris Equity elevator as part of their annual “Farmer Goodie Bag Day.”
“We spend the morning together putting them all together, and thanks to our wonderful sponsors and donors, we've been able to do this for quite a few years now,” FFA President Ahlyssa Garwood said.
The students visited the Paris Equity elevator as well as the Hume elevator, meeting farmers on their way in.
“Those are two of the elevators that are the closest to us and that our students have the most family ties to. So, we have good relationships in those areas, and those are the people that we want to serve the most,” Shiloh FFA Advisor Emma Ennis said.
Farmers received a goody bag containing water, a sandwich, chips, cookies and candy.
Shiloh FFA made sure no farmer went hungry, offering extra goodie bags for them to take back to their family/crew.
“We're really excited to be here and grateful that we're able to show our appreciation to those farmers out there,” Garwood said.
While the event is important for the FFA because it’s an agricultural program, Garwood said it’s also important to show local farmers community support.
“We're here, we see them and we care for them. We're really grateful for all that they do, especially in this busy harvest season,” she said.
Outside of the event, the FFA stays busy giving back to the community through programs such as FFA Week in February.
“We do a petting zoo that the community is invited to. We also do Ag in the Classroom where we go to all the different grade levels in the school district and teach them lessons about agriculture,” Ennis said.
Ennis and Garwood encourage those interested to sign up for FFA, saying it’s a very welcoming group.
“We love having anyone who wants to be a part of it and wants to participate in any sort of way. The whole experience is what the student makes of it,” Ennis said.
Garwood added that events like Farmer Goodie Bag Day are not only a great way to serve the community, but also a fulfilling experience for students.
“This is something that the students put a lot of planning into,” Ennis said.
“And it's something the students look forward to. It makes them feel really good to show their appreciation for the farmers.”