Spring 2023 Launch Grants

Made possible by 

Mulhollem Cravens Foundation, Owensboro Grain & Give FFA Day Donors 

SAE stands for “Supervised Agricultural Experience,” it is an opportunity for students to put into practice the real-life, entrepreneurial skills learned in the classroom. With your generous grant, this spring we were able to award twenty-five students a $500 grant to invest in their own SAE Projects.

 

Jordan Robinson of Allen County FFA is starting a poultry SAE. Jordan wants to start raising chickens and will invest this grant into the chicks, egg cartons, a chicken coop, heat lamps, waterers, feeders, and feed. 

 

Addyson Allen of Barren County FFA is expanding her entrepreneurship called, “Belle’s Breads - Selling Baked Goods.” Addyson started her business in 2022 and currently spends approximately twenty-four hours a month dedicated to her SAE. She is using the funds from this grant to purchase a KitchenAid mixer. This investment will allow her to mix and make her loaves of bread more efficiently and help her manage her time better. 

Addison Bow of the Barren County FFA Chapter is expanding her beekeeping SAE. She plans to expand her hives and honey production as demand increases. Addison is using this grant to purchase bees, hive frames, hive boxes, bee suits and veils, and hive kits. She plans to produce and sell the honey her bees produce.

Carly Tabor of Barren County FFA is expanding her rodeo and equine SAE. She competes in the National High School Rodeo and the National Little Britches Rodeo doing team roping. Carly is using this grant to purchase a roping dummy to practice her roping skills. 

 

Weston Stephens of Barren County FFA is expanding his lawn care business, “Stephen’s Mowing Services.” Stephen is using this grant to purchase equipment such as a gas trimmer, ear muffs, lawn edger, and business cards. Weston hopes to expand his clientele by advancing his equipment. 

 

Allison Easley of the Bourbon County FFA Chapter is starting a beef production SAE. Allison lives on her grandparents farm and has chosen to start raising bottle-fed calves to market weight and selling them. Allison is using this grant to purchase the supplies to get started with this project such as milk replacers, bottle holders, panels, and feeder pans. 

 

MacKenzie McCarty of the Bourbon County FFA Chapter is starting a soap-making business, “Suds in the Bucket Soap Co.” MacKenzie got the idea for her entrepreneurship after winning a soap giveaway in her FFA Chapter. She will use this grant money to purchase soap bases, goat's milk, essential oils, dried flowers, and other essential materials needed for her business. 

Grant Klosterman of the Boyle County Middle FFA Chapter is expanding his blackberry production SAE. Grant currently has twelve blackberry plants and last year he sold twenty quarts of blackberries. He used his profits to expand his operation and donated to Swings for Soldiers. Grant is investing this grant in purchasing more blackberry bushes, baskets, fertilizer, a card reader, and to cover set-up fees for the farmers market.

 

Zachariah Lampkin of Boone County FFA is launching an SAE where he provides the community with safe hair and skin care products. He will use this grant to purchase shampoo, conditioner, body lotion bases, sugar scrubs, packaging materials, and natural plant seeds. Zachariah plans to sell his products to community members. 

David Lynn of Burgin Independent FFA is expanding his beef cattle production SAE. He currently has cattle on his farm but David wants to expand and raise his own heifer. David is investing this grant into purchasing salt, salt feeders, vaccinations, hay, syringes, and ear tags. 

 

Ally Dietsch of Carlisle County FFA is expanding her Agriculture Communications SAE. During her freshman year, she began a social media internship with the Carlisle County Farm Bureau and since has been asked to expand to offering services to other community organizations. Ally currently does not have the equipment necessary for expanding her services. She will use this grant to purchase a new computer with updated software or a new camera to take pictures of better quality.

Trent Zinner of Franklin County is advancing his vegetable production SAE. Last year, Trent purchased a small greenhouse and planted fresh herbs and peppers. Trent is using this grant to advance his SAE by purchasing the equipment needed to create a new covering for his greenhouse that is more efficient for his operation.

Jackson Traylor of Grant County FFA is expanding his jam & jelly SAE. Last year, Jackson grew jalapenos in his garden and worked with his grandmother to turn his jalapenos into jalapeno jelly. Last year he sold sixty-one jars of this jelly. Jackson is expanding to offer a larger variety of jams & jellies. He will invest this grant into seeds, labels, jars, sugar, lemon juice, and other ingredients needed to successfully make his products. 

Preston Meredith of Hardin County is expanding his grain production SAE. Last year, Preston planted and harvested eight acres of corn. Preston is expanding his production to 29 acres and with that comes additional land renting costs. Preston is using this grant to help offset the cost of his soybeans, roundup, rent, and fertilizer. 

Aleya Nelson of Harrison County FFA is starting a fruit and vegetable production SAE. She plans to start a garden to raise her own fruits and vegetables and then plans to create homemade snacks and desserts using the products she has grown. She currently makes chocolate zucchini bread, salsa, and homemade pickles. Aleya is using this grant to purchase a small greenhouse which she will primarily use to start her zucchini plants. She will also purchase plant stands, shovels, starting mix, starter trays, seeds, and hanging baskets. Aleya’s long-term goal for her SAE is to eventually open her own bakery & café and sell her homemade goods! 

Addison Jerome of Hopkins County FFA plans to start a cut flower garden SAE at her high school. Addison decided to start this SAE after joining her school’s floral class and realizing the scarcity of real flowers the floral classes could work on. She is using this grant to purchase supplies to start the garden such as weed tarps, fertilizer, and seeds. 

Maddie Ziegler of Hopkins County FFA is starting her own apiary. Maddie’s goal is to start with one beehive and eventually add more hives. She wants to start by solely selling honey and eventually expand to beeswax towels, creamed honey, and other products. Maddie is using this grant to purchase the hive, beekeeping equipment, and the equipment needed for honey production.

 

Savannah Crick of Hopkins County FFA is starting a beef hotdog business, 1792 Cattle Company Cafe. Savannah’s hot dog cart will be set up at various community businesses where she will sell her products. She is using this grant to purchase a freezer, a water heater, a 10-gallon water tank, and a portable water pump. 

Sydney Dickerson of Hopkins County FFA is expanding her boer goat operation. She raises and shows boer goats and currently has two goats and needs a more stable shelter for them. Sydney is using this grant to purchase wire fencing and t- posts to provide her goats a shelter that is strong and long-lasting. 

Lynnette Harris of Seneca FFA has two SAEs, one where she raises chickens and sells their eggs and the second is caring for her guinea pigs. Lynnette is using this grant to purchase a new cage for her guinea pigs and a variety of enrichment items for both her guinea pigs and chickens. These enrichment items will help her animals gain experiences they may only get in the wild. 

 

Brooklyn Lyvers of the LaRue County FFA Chapter is expanding her garden SAE. She currently has one raised garden bed and is expanding to three additional beds and a compost tumbler. Brooklyn is using this grant to purchase materials such as garden beds, seeds, fertilizer, soil, and a compost tumbler.

Kobe Marcum of the Locust Trace FFA Chapter is expanding his rodeo SAE. Kobe has always dreamed of becoming a bull rider and in 2022 this dream came true as Kobe rode his first bull. Unfortunately, Kobe quickly realized how important it is to have the proper protective equipment when riding bulls after an accident in August of 2022. Thankfully, Kobe only suffered minor injuries. Kobe is investing the money from this grant to purchase the protective gear Kobe needs to continue riding bulls. This equipment includes a helmet, vest, chaps, gloves, mouthguards, and other supplies. 

 

Tyren Harris of Locust Trace FFA is starting an “AromaGarden” SAE. He is using this grant to purchase materials such as stickers, a printer, a label maker, wick cutters, wick tables, a soy wax kit, and other materials. Tyren’s goal for this project is to bring a breath of fresh air to all who try these products. 

Tim Hardin of Marion County FFA is expanding his bee production SAE. In the fifth grade, Tim watched a documentary that captured the role beads play in our economy and ecosystem and knew he wanted to pursue a project as a beekeeper. Tim and his dad attended a beekeeping class in Nelson County and were chosen as the winner of a raffle where he was given a nucleus of bees. Tim  is using this grant to expand his operation by purchasing a new Mannlake beekeeping kit, smoker, and bee paddles. 

 

Micah Whitson of the Nelson County Schools FFA Chapter has always had an interest in marine life and their ecosystems and wants to launch a research SAE. Micah is using this grant to purchase a 29-gallon freshwater tank, plants, and freshwater fish. Micah will use the data collected from his SAE for his agriscience fair project to determine the best live plants for a planted aquarium.  

Adrianna Arredondo of the Seneca FFA Chapter is using her passion for art and creativity to advocate for Agriculture Education. She currently makes animal art pieces but plans to expand to create art that advocates for agriculture and the environment. She is wanting to turn her handmade artwork into more slick digital stickers. Adrianna will use this grant to purchase a printer, printer ink, a button maker machine, buttons, packaging materials, and storage containers to store completed pieces of art. 

Lily Roadcap of Shelby County FFA is expanding her produce business, “LilyBud Farm.” She was given a 100 ft greenhouse where she starts her flowers, hanging baskets, and various plants. This year she planted over 3,000 tomatoes, cantaloupes, and pepper plants. Lily is using this grant to purchase a carport which will serve as a stand where she will sell her produce from. 

 

Cameron Huggins of the Simpson County FFA Chapter is expanding her poultry SAE and egg production entrepreneurship named, “Huggins’ Hens.” Cameron has several SAEs where she advocates and educates about the poultry industry. Cameron is combining two of her current projects where she donates eggs to local elementary schools to hatch the eggs. Throughout that process, Cameron talks to the schools and plans activities with them. Along with that, Cameron is wanting to hatch her own fertilized eggs at home. Unfortunately, Cameron does not have an incubator at home so this grant will primarily go towards an incubator and other supplies needed to hatch chicks. 

Kaitlyn Lackey of the Taylor County FFA Chapter is starting a pet grooming and boarding business. Kaitlyn wants to offer pet boarding, grooming, and a place for your pet to get exercise. She is investing this grant in dog cages, lead ropes, collars, a grooming table, toys and treats, and other grooming essentials.  

Katrena French of Taylor County FFA is starting a soy candle entrepreneurship while also advocating for soybean production in Kentucky. Katrena has had a passion for candles for a long time and wanted to try to bring the joy that candles bring her to other people in her community. Katrena will use this grant to purchase soy wax, fragrance oils, molds, containers, and labels. 

Ryley Necessary of Taylor County FFA is starting entrepreneurship in soap production. Ryley will use this grant to purchase fragrances, a blender, a slow cooker, soap molds, a Kentucky Proud membership, and other materials needed to make the soap.  Ryley’s goal is to sell the products at the farmer's market and a local boutique. 

Timothy Farmer of the Taylor County FFA Chapter is launching a candle SAE. Timothy is using this grant to purchase a Kentucky Proud certification, stickers, wicks, wax, fragrances, and other materials needed to start his project. Timothy’s goal is to sell his products at the Taylor County Farmers Market. 

Mollie Skipworth of Todd County FFA is expanding her SAE where she has a small repurposed greenhouse. She has realized the financial challenges that come with raising plants and is using this grant towards an irrigation system, growing lights, and a larger greenhouse. 

Carter Ahn of the Western Hills FFA Chapter is starting a beef jerky SAE. He wants to offer Franklin County the best beef jerky they have ever seen! Carter will use this grant to purchase beef,  marinade, and packaging materials. 

Cooper Probst of Woodford County FFA is expanding his poultry SAE. Cooper currently raises and sells chickens and their eggs. He is looking for a more stable structure for his chickens. Cooper is investing this grant money in materials like roofing, siding, concrete, and framing in order to build a permanent chicken coop.