Future Farmers of America (FFA) is heading into its third year at LT. The goal of the club is to grow fruits and vegetables to sell to staff and donate to the local food pantry, Share Food Share Love, club sponsor Kaleigh Dolan said.
Members of FFA manage the greenhouse space at NC and can start their own growing projects. Club members also contribute to the local community garden near NC.
“Students get hands-on learning on managing hydroponics, starting seedlings, harvesting, and managing a greenhouse,” Dolan said. “Agriculture is one of the fastest growing job fields, and while most of our members won’t go on to become traditional farmers, their leadership and FFA experiences position them to be front-runners for jobs and careers of their choosing.”
FFA participates in competitions throughout the year. One of the events is Enviro-Thon, an environmental science competition, Dolan said. In the Spring of 2024, the team won regionals and participated in the state competition.
“I was a part of FFA already before I came to LT,” FFA President and LION photographer Brooke Stack ‘26 said. “It gives me a lot of opportunities for college like access to the National FFA Scholarship Program and opportunities to build leadership and career skills through competitive events.”
FFA makes a difference at LT and within the surrounding community as well, Dolan said.
“I think one of the biggest impacts we have is selling fresh produce to staff,” Dolan said. “Most of our produce is grown hydroponically, meaning we are using less water and a smaller carbon footprint, creating a more sustainable product. We also never use pesticides or chemicals on our plants or in the soil and water. This ensures that we are providing a healthy and clean product.”
FFA meets every Thursday in room 229 at NC. Their first meeting was Thursday, Sept. 18. At the meetings, members typically do plant and equipment maintenance and check in on the plants’ growth.
“If you like gardening, plants, or growing and eating food, come join our club,” Dolan said. “We play games, get to know each other, and enjoy growing and taking care of plants, both in soil and hydroponically.”