Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) has donated $10,000 to the Nebraska FFA Foundation to directly support local agriculture education classrooms and FFA needs. Thayer Central, Deshler, Minden, Franklin and McCool Junction were selected to receive grants.
Thayer Central FFA received funding for their animal lab. The goal of the Animal Lab project is to raise livestock on campus so that all Pre-K-12 students are able to witness the different life stages of farm animals and for the agricultural classes and FFA Members to manage those animals on a daily basis.
Deshler agriculture classroom received funding for their greenhouse. The project will expand opportunities for education in plant-based science and agricultural areas, as well as; give the students an opportunity to start, grow, market and sell a product.
Minden FFA received funding for their chapter garden. The FFA garden will be a chapter project that students will spend time helping with during the summer. The garden will include produce that will be sold to the community, processed and canned and utilized in the school cafeteria.
Franklin agriculture classroom received funding for their welding ventilation system replacement. Due to the increase in students with allergies and the age and ineffectiveness of their current air handling system they needed to update their ventilation/air quality system.
Finally, the McCool Junction agriculture classroom received funding for a Lone Star Cutting Solutions Spitfire. They wanted to purchase the Lone Star Cutting Solutions Spitfire plasma table to give their students an opportunity to explore careers in agricultural mechanics.
“Farming has always been a challenging yet rewarding profession. The men and women who take on these challenges in the future are currently participating in ag education and FFA programs throughout Central Nebraska. CPI knows that by investing in these programs, we are investing in the future of the ag industry,” said Gary Brandt, CPI CEO.
In addition to the grants provided through the Nebraska FFA Foundation, CPI was able to utilize the Land O’Lakes Member Co-op Match program to provide additional funding. CPI ended up being able to double the original local chapter grant amounts given to the Franklin, Deshler, McCool Junction, and Thayer Central FFA Chapters.
