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Member Impact Local Communities Through Ford Leadership Scholars Program
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | Author: Texas FFA News
Every year, ten deserving students are selected to join the Ford Leadership Scholars Program. During the student's senior year of high school, the FFA members commit to a hands-on leadership program and complete year-long substantial and sustainable service capstone projects.
Let's take a look at the class of 2024-2025's projects.
Allie Caddell
Stamford FFA
Allie Caddell’s project, titled “Pursuing the People,” entails building a pickleball court at Harmon Park in Stamford, Texas to strengthen community connections. She has raised nearly $19,000 of her $26,000 goal, with major support from First State Bank, whose logo will be featured at center court. Concrete was poured in March, and Lone Star Sports will surface the court in April. Stamford FFA’s ag mechanics team is building benches to display sponsor names, and a community clean-up day is planned for late May with help from local churches and youth groups. Caddell says, “a shared space can create shared purpose.”
Cora Ford
Weslaco FFA
Cora Ford’s project, titled “Cowboy Corners,” includes creating outdoor spaces that support mental wellness through gardens, art, and inspirational features at Weslaco ISD. Funded by WISD Board Trustee Benjamin Castillo, the project spans three campuses and includes accessibility upgrades, like a wheelchair ramp at Central Middle School. Volunteers and FFA members will help complete the spaces during May planting days. Ford said, “We’re creating a space where every student feels seen, supported, and connected to something bigger than themselves.”
Sydney Herring
Cinco Ranch FFA
Sydney Herring’s project, titled “A Touch of Hope,” had the goal to provide swing sets to children battling cancer, partnering with the Snowdrop Foundation and local FFA chapters. Originally planning to donate ten, she was able to give a swing set to every family that applied. She also helped collect over 1,000 items for Texas Children’s Hospital. “Even the smallest act of kindness can bring comfort and hope to someone facing their hardest days,” Herring said.
Madison McClure
Cleburne FFA
Madison McClure’s project, titled “First Responders First,” had the goal to support dispatcher mental health by transforming the Johnson County dispatch center courtyard into a peaceful retreat. Unveiled during Dispatcher Awareness Week, the space features custom benches, rocking chairs, and thoughtful decor. “Dispatchers are often the unseen heroes—this space is a reminder that their service matters every single day,” McClure said.
Ciara Hays
Llano FFA
Ciara Hays’ project, titled “The B.U.D. Initiative,” has the goal to ensure everyone in her community feels seen and supported. Her monthly efforts have addressed suicide awareness, sexual assault prevention, and school staff appreciation through podcasts, resources, and student involvement. Looking ahead, she’ll focus on professionalism, food insecurity, and mental health. “Even if you help just one person, that’s one more person than before—and that matters,” Hays said.
Hannah Griffice
Goose Creek Memorial FFA
Hannah Griffice’s project, titled “Table Tales,” has the goal to boost agricultural literacy through interactive restaurant placemats and teacher resources. Partnering with local businesses and Texas Farm Bureau, her project now reaches families and educators across GCCISD. “When we make agriculture fun and accessible, we plant the seeds of understanding in the next generation,” Griffice said.
Amarachi Uche-Eboh
Talkington FFA
Amarachi Uche-Eboh’s project, titled “Food Drives Up North,” is a student-led food delivery program serving northeast Lubbock. Partnering with local organizations, the project delivered over 85 food items to more than 20 households and engaged over 10 students. “Connecting youth with service creates lasting impact—one drive at a time,” Uche-Eboh said.
Cody Gonzales
Deer Park FFA
Cody Gonzales’ project, titled “Agriculture is for All,” aimed to bring hands-on ag education to urban students. He hosted an Urban Agriculture Day and built a greenhouse and hydroponic gardens at Deer Park ISD’s Outdoor Learning Center, reaching all K–5 students. “When students experience agriculture firsthand, they realize it truly is for everyone,” Gonzales said.
Jordan VanWinkle
Sulphur Springs FFA
Jordan VanWinkle’s project, titled “The Leaf & Light Laboratory,” is a greenhouse project that teaches incarcerated women in Hopkins County sustainable agriculture and life skills. With support from local partners, the program uses aquaponics, aeroponics, and educational tools to promote growth and rehabilitation. “This project is about more than plants—it’s about second chances and changing lives,” VanWinkle said.
Sarah Beck
Corsicana FFA
Sarah Beck’s project, titled “Restock and Refresh,” includes a hygiene closet providing free essentials to students in need. After collecting over 500 items, she expanded the project to include pre-packed kits for both the high school and middle school. “Every student deserves to feel confident and cared for—sometimes, that starts with the basics,” Beck said.
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