McLean County Farm Bureau

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Farm Bureau Helps Local FFA Chapters Grow New Opportunities

A $15,000 grant from McLean County Farm Bureau is presented to Olympia FFA by Darren Davis, McLean County Farm Bureau Vice President. The funds helped the ag department build a new livestock facility on the school campus.
A $15,000 grant from McLean County Farm Bureau is presented to Olympia FFA by Darren Davis, McLean County Farm Bureau Vice President. The funds helped the ag department build a new livestock facility on the school campus.

McLean County Farm Bureau is investing nearly $20,000 in local agricultural education efforts through the FFA Capital Grant program to help grow capacity for hands-on learning. Ridgeview FFA and Olympia FFA received grant funding in 2025, $4,978 and $15,000, respectively.

“We’re happy to help our local high school agricultural education programs upgrade their equipment and facilities,” says Brian Dirks, McLean County Farm Bureau President. “The goal of the McLean County Farm Bureau FFA Capital Grant program is to support strong local high school agriculture programs to give students opportunities to learn and explore ag-related careers.”

Ridgeview FFA received $4,978 in grant funds to purchase 3-D learning models to enhance learning resources for agricultural topics. Pictured from left, Courtney Wesson, Reid Thompson, McLean County Farm Bureau Board Member, Kamryn Rinkenberger, Max Mason, Rylee Kukuck, Katie Dowling, McLean County Farm Bureau Director of Engagement, Carley Zimmerman, Ridgeview FFA Advisor, Claire Edwards, Chay Fisher & Ady DeFries.

Ridgeview FFA used the capital grant funds to purchase 3-D models for animal and plant sciences. “These new tools enhance students’ understanding of agricultural concepts through interactive, real-world learning,” says Carley Zimmerman, Ridgeview agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor.

Olympia FFA’s grant funds contributed to their new livestock facility on the Olympia High School campus. “We’re excited to open this livestock barn,” says Bryce Hoffman, Olympia High School ag teacher and FFA advisor. “It will be able to house different species of livestock for student learning projects.” The facility opened for its first event, Ag Day, in early November.

The FFA Capital Grant program, established by McLean County Farm Bureau in 2021, is available to all high school agriculture programs that serve McLean County students. More information is available at www.mcfb.org/grants.