West Alexandria — The Twin Valley South-MVCTC FFA Chapter has been awarded a grant designed to help the Preble County community. The grant is provided through the Ohio FFA Foundation’s Agricultural & Rural Community Outreach Program (ARCOP) which provides support to build sustainable relationships and programs that will benefit Ohio communities for years to come.

Originally introduced in 2013, ARCOP grants allow Ohio FFA chapters to apply for funding that aid community development projects. These FFA chapter ARCOP projects often benefit rural residents or low-income farmers and have a long-term impact on the community, either economically or through an improved quality of life. Participating FFA Chapters will work in collaboration with other local organizations to complete these projects which will cover agricultural topics varying from educational programs to awareness and promotion to economic development.

The Twin Valley South-MVCTC FFA, in partnership with the Preble County ESC, received this grant to expose 3rd grade students in every Preble County school to career opportunities in the agricultural industry. All FFA chapters in Preble County including Eaton-MVCTC, National Trail-MVCTC, Preble Shawnee and Tri-County North-MVCTC, will be involved in the project of conducting an ‘Ag STEM Day’ at the Preble County Fairgrounds in late September. Through interactive presentations presented by FFA members, students will learn more about agriculture and how it affects their daily life. Participating students will go home with an “Ag Bag” to further their experience.

After FFA Chapter advisors submitted project proposals to the Ohio FFA Foundation, a total of 12 grants were awarded to the following FFA chapters: Benjamin Logan, Allen East, Zane Trace, Miller City, Mohawk, Versailles, Twin Valley South-MVCTC, Peebles, Global Impact, Houston-UVCC, Tinora and Loudonville.

The ARCOP program is a partnership between the Ohio FFA Foundation and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“FFA is an exemplary organization that gives back to the community and is grooming today’s students to be future leaders of Ohio,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda. “The Ohio Department of Agriculture is proud to support these outstanding FFA

chapters and projects that will keep agriculture in the forefront and will help local communities across the state.”

For more information about the Twin Valley South-MVCTC FFA Chapter’s ARCOP grant project, check out social media including Facebook and Instagram.