Ten Kentucky FFA Chapters Awarded $15,000 to Fight Food Insecurity

Ten Kentucky FFA chapters have been selected to receive Better Days Through Better Ways grants, totaling $15,000 in funding to support student-led projects addressing food insecurity in communities across Kentucky.

Made possible through the generous support of the Mulhollem Cravens Foundation, each selected chapter will receive $1,500 to implement a project that combines agricultural education, community service, and efforts to improve access to nutritious food.

From community gardens and hydroponic growing systems to poultry production and food distribution programs, the projects will give FFA members hands-on opportunities to apply their agricultural knowledge while addressing needs in their communities.

The 2026–2027 Better Days Through Better Ways grant recipients and their projects are:

Muhlenberg County High School FFA – Harvesting for Hunger
Members will work to provide locally harvested venison to families in need while educating community members about meat processing, food preparation, and the role of agriculture in addressing hunger.

South Warren FFA – Egg to Table
Through a student-managed poultry project, members will raise chickens to provide fresh eggs and poultry to families experiencing food insecurity while developing skills in animal care and poultry production.

Lone Oak Middle FFA – Hatching Hope
Members will expand their existing laying hen project to increase egg production and provide a nutritious source of protein to community members in need.

Hopkinsville Middle School FFA – HMS Community Garden
Students will establish a community garden to grow fresh vegetables and make the produce available to families through a food distribution box located near the school.

Fleming County High School FFA – From Barn to Garden: Fleming County FFA Community Compost Project
Members will develop a composting program using agricultural waste from the school’s barn and greenhouse, creating a resource to support community gardening and local food production.

Barren County FFA – Hydro Harvest: Hydroponics Harvest for Trojan Meals
Students will use vertical hydroponic growing systems to produce fresh vegetables for the school’s Trojan Table farm-to-school initiative while learning about sustainable food production.

Green County FFA – GC FFA School Garden
Members will establish a school garden to grow fresh produce for their community while teaching students and families about gardening, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.

Williamstown FFA – Grow it Forward
Students will develop a community garden and Garden-in-a-Box program to provide fresh produce and help families learn practical skills in gardening, food preservation, and healthy food preparation.

Great Crossing FFA – Farm Fresh Boxes
Members will establish community Blessing Boxes stocked with food sourced from local farms, volunteers, and other partners to help improve food access for families in need.

Bourbon County Middle FFA – Grow & Give
Students will establish community food pantry boxes featuring locally sourced food and produce grown through their school’s agricultural education program.

The Better Days Through Better Ways program encourages FFA members to identify challenges in their communities and develop agricultural solutions that make a meaningful difference. In addition to providing food assistance, these projects will help students strengthen their leadership, problem-solving, and agricultural skills.

Kentucky FFA is grateful to the Mulhollem Cravens Foundation for its continued investment in agricultural education and for providing opportunities for FFA members to serve their communities.

Through these ten projects, Kentucky FFA members are demonstrating how agricultural education can extend beyond the classroom to help build stronger, healthier communities.