Mansfield FFA secures Wilco grant

MANSFIELD – There is always something happening with the school’s FFA chapter. FFA/Agriculture instructor Jamey Jo Steele said her chapter officers just completed volunteering at the North Central Washington fairgrounds in Waterville during the Cowboy Brunch fundraiser organized by the fair to help raise funds for the Big Bend Round Up. 

“The kids helped prepare, cook, set up and serve breakfast to close to 300 people,” said Steele.

The chapter applied for and received its second Wilco FFA Forever Grant. Wilco is a farm supply store that offers grants to FFA chapters for large projects. 

“This is our second time receiving this grant,” said Steele. “The first monies were used to build our first steer pen at the school farm in 2022.”

With more than half (55%) of the K8-12 student body involved in FFA, the chapter makes good use of the money.

“With the growing number of chapter members raising steers we will use these new funds to purchase panels, gates, and posts to build an additional pen,” Steele said.

The chapter just wrapped up its 11th annual Christmas wreath sale fundraiser. 

“We have been using a Washington based company called Sherwood Forest Farms for the past 11 years and have grown from 45 customers in 2014 to 105 this year,” Steele said.

The Mansfield FFA’s second annual Dinner & Auction is set for Sunday, March 24. Tickets will go on sale February 1.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media