The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) released grant applications for the 2015 Agricultural and Rural Community Outreach Program (ARCOP). The program, jointly administered by the Ohio FFA Foundation, Ohio FFA Association and ODA, helps local FFA chapters finance worthy community development projects.

Local FFA chapters can submit project proposals until April 1, to the Ohio FFA Foundation. A committee will then select projects to receive grant funds ranging from $750 to $2,500.  Grant winners will be notified by April 15.

“FFA provides life-shaping, leadership and education experiences for our young people,” said ODA Director David T. Daniels. “The Ohio Department of Agriculture is proud to partner with Ohio FFA Foundation and Association to help students fund community projects that teach them the value of giving back to their communities while keeping them interested and involved in agriculture.”

Last year, 15 local FFA chapters were awarded funding for projects in a variety of areas including farm safety training, land lab improvements, agricultural science, and targeting hunger needs of school children and rural populations.

“This program has grown steadily over the last 3 years, and with our 2014 projects successfully completed, Ohio FFA is looking forward to working with our partners to help fund another round of diverse, worthwhile community projects,” said FFA Foundation Director Melissa Bell.

One notable project in 2014 from the North Union FFA created the Barnyard Buddies Agriculture Literacy Program. The goal of this program was to identify 30 economically disadvantaged youths in elementary school whose families would benefit from receiving a Thanksgiving meal from FFA. In partnership with the elementary staff and students, FFA members organized agricultural literacy programs to educate the students on the processes involved from farm to table. In addition to the educational component, North Union FFA students created a plan to hatch, raise, and process turkeys in order to provide the 30 families with a hot meal on Thanksgiving Day.

The ARCOP is funded by a $38,000 grant provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture through the Ohio Rural Rehabilitation fund. For more information on grant guidelines or to apply, visit http://ohioffa.org/foundation/foundation-news/.