R’mont FFA’s ‘Food for All’ gains notoriety

Ridgemont FFA students Logan Hill, Adreonna Radcliffe, Riley Drumm, Andrew Scharf and Cody Seiler stand with guidance counselor Jessica Kroetz during a break in filming of interviews about the chapter’s “Food for All” program. It will be broadcast in October on the U.S. Farm Report and Ag Day TV programs.

RIDGEWAY — Ridgemont FFA’s success with community programs is gaining it more national attention.
Ridgemont is one of five chapters nationwide selected to be included in a mini-documentary that will capture the impact of the “FFA: Food for All” program.
A film crew was at the school Tuesday afternoon to talk to students and administrators about the Ridgemont FFA’s program to provide food to the less fortunate in the community.
Ridgemont was one of 141 chapters to receive a $2,500 grant through the “Food for All” program. Chapters used the funds to initiate sustainable hunger programs in their communities.
Michele Sullivan with the National FFA said Ridgemont used the funding in two projects. The first was to purchase earth boxes – portable container gardens that produce vegetables for the recipients.
“It’s a source of fresh, affordable nutrition for families,” she said.
“Healthy lives equal healthy nutrition,” Sullivan said.
The families selected agree to participate in the program and the students are available to help with the container garden, if needed.
Sullivan said the program helps people understand where food comes from.
Stephanie Jolliff, Ridgemont FFA advisor, said to ensure all the families selected got one of the gardens, some members contributed $50 of their own money to purchase an earth box.
She said there are 35 families in the program.
Also supported through the grant is the backpack program. Children from needy families are identified and provided with backpacks filled with food and snacks for the weekend.
Sullivan praised the Ridgemont FFA students for their efforts.
“They are really putting their leadership into action through service learning opportunities,” she said. “They are having an impact on their community.”
She said the segment will be broadcast on the U.S. Farm Report and Ag Day TV programs in October.

By TIM THOMAS
Times editor

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Posted by Kenton Times on August 1, 2012. Filed under Featured,Local News,Recent Headlines,Recent Pictures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry