Waterville FFA is digging into a new season of agricultural education, thanks to Tractor Supply Company’s (TSC) “Grants for Growing” program. Through this competitive initiative, Waterville FFA was awarded $5,000 to support the development of hands-on, project-based learning experiences that enrich agricultural education for students.
The funding is made possible by generous TSC customers who purchased FFA paper emblems during the February paper emblem sales event.
These funds will help Waterville FFA to bring more agriculture education programming to Memorial Park Elementary School (MPS).
Four main objectives of the grant include:
- Promoting hands-on agriculture learning experiences that teach foundational STEAM concepts. MPS has an outdoor garden on site, which can be used to provide hands-on education about vegetable crops and gardening techniques.
- Acting as a collaborative link between MPS and Jr./Sr. High School to ensure continuity in agricultural education. Strengthening collaboration between Waterville FFA members and elementary students and staff will spark early interest in agricultural education and create a seamless transition into Jr./Sr. High School programs.
- Facilitating authentic, agricultural-based learning experiences that engage students, encourage exploration and innovation, and teach them to think critically and solve problems. Several senior high FFA students utilize the high school greenhouse and outdoor garden space for their supervised agricultural experiences. They will assess needs of the elementary level and design projects to help meet those needs.
- Fostering students’ appreciation of the agriculture industry by connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences through field trips that highlight its role in daily life.
Waterville FFA truly appreciates this opportunity and encourages the community to support local TSC stores, which generously support FFA chapters throughout the U.S.
