Fred Raines, Agricultural Education Teacher at Abbeville High School
ABBEVILLE FFA CHAPTER ASSISTING AG ED PROGRAMS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE KATRINA
COLUMBIA, SC….The Abbeville High School FFA Chapter is participating in the National FFA Organization’s Seeds of Hope Campaign to raise funds to assist in rebuilding agricultural education departments and FFA chapters in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida affected by Hurricane Katrina, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA.
The National FFA Organization reports an estimated 120 Agricultural Education Departments and FFA chapters in the multi-state region suffered considerable damage or destruction of facilities and projects as a result of the storm. Seeds of Hope funds contributed by FFA chapters across the nation will be used to help repair or rebuild facilities, including greenhouses and laboratories, replace equipment, and purchase seed and livestock.
“Abbeville FFA members raised more than $800 in one day working at the Harris Springs Sporting Clay Tournament”, said Fred Raines, Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Abbeville High School . “This is only a part of our commitment to help FFA chapters in the Gulf states recover from the damages wrought by the hurricane”, he added.
Abbeville FFA Chapter members will join other chapters from throughout South Carolina and the nation in a special ceremony at the upcoming National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, to present their financial contributions to the Seeds of Hope Campaign which is expected to raise millions of dollars.
The National FFA Organization is made up of more than 490,000 members from 7200 chapters in secondary schools located in every state in the nation, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In addition to the National FFA Seeds of Hope Campaign, some chapters are adopting agricultural education departments and FFA chapters in the affected area to work directly with them in the rebuilding damaged or destroyed laboratories and greenhouses.
The mission of the FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.