Owensboro Grain’s reach may be international, they prioritize supporting the local community, especially when it comes to youth in agriculture. For the second time in just three years, the company has made a large donation that will directly impact agriculture students in Daviess County. The agriculture programs at Daviess County High School, Apollo High School and Owensboro Catholic High School will receive $3,000 each.

FFA has been an important lifeline for students to maintain a sense of connection during the past year, despite the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Owensboro Grain’s donation will allow these three FFA chapters to continue the work of introducing students to leadership activities and helping them find purpose in the midst of a tumultuous time.

“The Apollo FFA Chapter is very grateful for Owensboro Grain, and their continued support of agricultural education in Daviess County and Kentucky,” said Matt Johnson, one of the agriculture teachers at Apollo. “This gift will be used for scholarships for our students to attend leadership conferences and help with the expense of attending FFA activities once COVID-19 subsides. With so much uncertainty right now, it is comforting to know that Owensboro Grain feels it is of great importance to invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders in Daviess County. We are truly thankful.”

The gift comes at a critical time for the three agriculture programs here in Daviess county. Normally FFA chapters hold fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for things like scholarships, leadership activities, and travel to conferences. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a stop to most, if not all fundraising, which could negatively impact student opportunities.

“We and our members are so grateful for this generous gift to our FFA chapter,” said Jason Smith, an agriculture teacher at Daviess County High School. “The donation comes at a time that our fundraising efforts have fallen short of previous years.  We will use these funds to supplement chapter efforts to retain current members and recruit new ones as well as planned chapter activities and scholarships for our graduating members.  Their support of the community and our program is such a blessing.”

In the case of Owensboro Catholic High School, the funds will be used for facility upgrades that will give students a new skill set.

“With these funds we will be able to repair our greenhouse,” said Erica Tapp, the agriculture teacher at Owensboro Catholic, thanking Owensboro Grain for their donation. “The greenhouse at OCHS has been nonfunctional for many years. OCHS plans to use this greenhouse for fundraising for the FFA and hands-on education in agriculture classes. We are very excited to get it repaired and start growing!”

“Owensboro Grain welcomes the opportunity to invest into future agricultural leaders in our community,” said John M. Wright, executive vice president of Owensboro Grain. “Because of the strong agricultural presence in our region, we think it’s important to be an investor in the future of agriculture.”

Thanks to Owensboro Grain’s donation, the next generation of agriculture in Daviess County will have more opportunities this year.

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 14,500 FFA members in 161 FFA chapters across Kentucky. Learn more about how you can support the mission of the Kentucky FFA Foundation at kyffa.org/ways-to-give.