By Blake Jackson
The Windsor FFA chapter has been named Chapter of the Year by the New York State Agricultural Society for its significant contributions over the past year. Windsor FFA expanded its efforts by enhancing its 6.7-acre land lab at Windsor Central High School. This included adding two calves and a steer to create a large-animal land lab. The chapter’s dedication to community service was especially recognized for placing farm stands in three low-income areas within the district, providing fresh produce to those in need.
“The one piece that really got the attention of the judges’ panel is our ability to help feed our community,” said Windsor agriculture teacher Tina Miner-James. “Transportation is a limiting factor to get fresh produce and we took a farm stand to them.”
“Having a sense of community was a big part of it. The kids are taking ownership of it. When they’re out there doing the produce, they’re trying to see, ‘Oh, this stand liked this produce more,’ so they were starting to make a recognition between what the community wants and making that step,” said Windsor agriculture teacher Jessica Swingle.
Windsor FFA Treasurer Claire Griffin expressed her pride in the recognition, stating that the award was a testament to the hard work put into the land lab project. “It’s really important to be recognized for what we’ve accomplished,” she said. The chapter’s mission to ensure no student in the district goes hungry is at the core of their efforts, with hundreds of hours dedicated to supporting the local community through agriculture and fresh food access. The recognition underscores Windsor FFA’s commitment to service and sustainable farming practices.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: New York, Education