VERSAILLES — Versailles FFA was recently informed that they received an Agricultural and Rural Community Outreach Program (ARCOP) Grant through the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
The ARCOP program was available to Ohio FFA chapters to fund community development projects in the areas of educational agricultural programs, agriculture awareness and promotion and agriculture and food economic development. These projects are to address the needs of farmers and rural individuals, families and communities, agricultural education and the economic development of rural areas and should be in collaboration with a substantial agency, a governmental entity, or other long-standing organization.
The theme for 2020 ARCOP Grant is to teach children the origin of the food they eat and helps promote fresh, healthy foods in communities. Projects should align with these principles, with an emphasis on decreasing food insecurity, getting fresh foods to communities or helping farm to school efforts. The ACROP projects have to take place from now to December 2020.
As part of the grant Versailles FFA recently purchased the Versailles Council of Churches with a new refrigerator and as part of this new refrigerator the goal is for the council of churches to be able to distribute more fresh produce and milk. In addition to the new refrigerator the Versailles FFA is also supplying the Council of Churches and the Trinity of Lutheran BackPack Program with milk, eggs, butter, vegetables and fruits several times a month. The goal is to purchase the fruits and vegetables from local farmers when available.
In addition to the providing vegetable, Versailles FFA Chapter Vice-President Maddy Henry has been busy writing nutritional information and recipes for a variety of vegetables and produce. In addition to the recent grant the Versailles FFA supplied the Versailles Schools with milk in May that was distributed to each family that received lunches through the school. Versailles FFA has also been supplying Versailles Council of Churches with milk numerous times since the fall. Versailles FFA plans to continue to supply Versailles Council of Churches and Trinity of Lutheran BackPack Program with milk, eggs, butter, vegetables and fruits throughout the summer and fall.
A special thanks to Versailles FFA President Luke Billenstein and Versailles FFA Vice-President Maddy Henry for writing the grant. A special thanks to Versailles FFA members Luke and Darren Billenstein for picking up and delivering the refrigerator and to Laura Wuebker and Maddy Henry for delivering food and purchasing food.
