The Oakfield-Alabama FFA(Future Farmers of America) was awarded an America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Grant of $10,000 at the Oakfield-Alabama Central Schools regular Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night.
According to Kent Williams, a Sales Representative for Bayer/Hubnerseed, the school writes the grant describing their STEM focused project then they contact local farmers to nominate the district, the more farms the district gets, the better their chances are. In Oakfield-Alabama, 5 farms supported the district. (see video)
“Its a way for Bayer to give back to the local community in the name of the farmer. So when these farmers want to help their local school district get stronger in the STEM area, often time rural school districts are not funded as well and they want the next generation of farmers and agricultural workers,” says Williams.
The Oakfield-Alabama School District had to compete with rural schools across the country. Three other districts in WNY also were awarded a grant. Elba, York and Friendship. The grants were either $10,000 or $25,000.
The grant will be used for the FFA to construct a 12’x32′ addition on their current barn facility for the storage of hay, bedding and grain.
The FFA program is in its 4th year at Oakfield-Alabama and this past year has seen a large jump in enrollment, from 35 students to 83. The barn is currently 24’x32′ and contains beef cows and pigs.
“With more and more kids involved, this gives them the opportunity to be enrolled and involved with agriculture,” says Todd Hofheins/Advisor for the FFA.
“Whether the kids realize it right now, its something that will really build their skills,” says Williams.
Construction on the addition to the barn will start in a few weeks and should probably take a week to complete according to Hofheins.