Stanley FFA Members Share Agriculture with the Next Generation
The ND FFA Foundation is committed to increasing agricultural literacy through meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. Through a partnership with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program provides funding for projects that connect students with agriculture in engaging and memorable ways. This year, Stanley FFA members stepped into the role of teachers, helping elementary students discover the many ways agriculture impacts their everyday lives.
Program: Stanley FFA Ag in the Classroom
Teacher: Bailey Hawbaker, Stanley FFA Advisor
Impact: Approximately 450 students
Purpose: To introduce elementary students to North Dakota agriculture through interactive lessons led by FFA members.
Objectives:
- Teach students about North Dakota’s agricultural commodities.
- Encourage hands-on learning through activities, crafts, and food demonstrations.
- Provide leadership opportunities for FFA members while promoting agricultural literacy.
During the event, more than 50 Stanley FFA members led agriculture lessons for over 400 elementary students. Each station focused on a different area of agriculture, including soil, wheat, poultry, corn, pork, dairy, and beef. Along the way, students explored how these commodities are produced and the important role they play in providing the food and products we use every day.
Every lesson included an interactive activity to help bring the topic to life. Students created crafts, completed hands-on projects, or sampled foods connected to the commodity they were learning about. These activities encouraged students to ask questions, make connections, and better understand the journey from farm to table.
The experience wasn’t just valuable for elementary students. Stanley FFA members gained confidence as they shared their knowledge, answered questions, and worked with younger students throughout the day. Teaching others gave members the opportunity to strengthen their communication and leadership skills while serving as positive role models in their school and community.
The impact of the event extended well beyond the classroom. Families continued talking about the lessons after students returned home, sharing what they had learned about agriculture with parents and siblings. Teachers also praised the event, noting that the added hands-on activities made this year’s program one of the best yet. The project even received recognition in the local newspaper as part of National FFA Week celebrations.
Funding from the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant helped purchase supplies and food for the activities, making it possible to create engaging lessons for hundreds of students. Through the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program, the ND FFA Foundation and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture continue to support projects that spark curiosity, strengthen agricultural literacy, and inspire the next generation through hands-on learning.
