News Release    

For more information:    

Sheldon McKinney
Executive Director
Kentucky FFA Foundation, Inc.

(606) 782-4620
sheldon.mckinney@kyffa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 26, 2018

Kentucky FFA Foundation Awards $15,000 in Grants to Help FFA Chapters Combat Hunger in Their Communities

The Kentucky FFA Foundation has selected 15 FFA chapters to each receive a $1,000 Better Days Through Better Ways grant. Selected chapters will use the grant to implement practical and sustainable ways to address hunger in their communities.

This is the fifth year for the grant program, which is funded by the Mulhollem Cravens Foundation as a special project of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. In that time, $60,000 worth of $1,000 grants have been awarded to FFA chapters across the state. 

One in six Kentuckians struggles with hunger. To qualify for a grant, FFA members, with the guidance of their agriculture teachers, research local barriers to healthy and affordable food.

“The first step to impact is awareness, and as these projects all begin as a way to increase food to the food insecure, they are all on the right path,” said Valerie Cravens, who represents the Mulhollem Cravens Foundation.

The next step FFA chapters must take in order to obtain a grant is creating a plan to combat hunger that is both practical given the makeup of the community and has the potential to make a long-term impact. Projects must also include an educational outreach component to help with sustainability. 

Examples of ongoing projects include planting and maintaining community gardens, establishing orchards, and introducing hydroponic growing systems.

“FFA members are uniquely positioned to address hunger because they are learning valuable life skills, like how to produce food, but also they understand their community’s needs because they are the community,” said Sheldon McKinney, executive director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. 

Students who are involved in the Better Days Through Better Ways grant program learn a number of lessons, even beyond helping their neighbors become more food secure. 

“Contributing to food needs is the central goal, but how much is learned in the process is just as important. The students should gain skills in any or all of the areas of communication, marketing, production or management,” said Cravens.

Students also learn how to manage challenges that can come with any long-term commitment. 

“When you have community support and grants, it is important to be a good steward of their faith in the program. Having a well-researched plan and a distinct focus is important,” said Cravens. “Success is in learning how to adapt, how to improve, and how to change when necessary.”

In addition to sponsoring the grant program, the Mulhollem Cravens Foundation also supports the Kentucky FFA’s Teacher Mentoring Program, which pairs first year agriculture teachers with experienced mentor teachers to help them find success in the classroom. 

The Kentucky FFA Foundation cultivates partnerships which support the FFA vision to grow leaders, build communities, and strengthen agriculture. Kentucky FFA Foundation initiatives impact nearly 14,000 FFA members in 151 FFA chapters across Kentucky.

Chapters receiving grants include: 

Boyd County 

Bracken County 

Clark County 

Elliott County 

Greenup County 

Harlan County 

LaRue County 

Madisonville North Hopkins 

Magoffin County 

Meade County 

Owsley County 

Powell County 

Robertson County 

Royal Springs Middle, Scott County 

Southwestern Pulaski 

Wesbster County