Texas FFA Members Leave Service Footprint After Annual Convention in Fort Worth
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 | Author: Braelyn Pointer, Sudan FFA
Texas FFA members were living to serve as they participated in multiple community service initiatives hosted in conjunction with the 94th Annual Texas FFA State Convention this past July.
At the conclusion of the week, our host city of Fort Worth, Texas, saw more than 15 regional parks cleaned, service hours donated to the city's iconic Herd, and more than 900 Tarrant County children received school supplies.
Learn more about the initiatives below:
Stock the Backpack Community Service Initiative
Texas FFA members collected and donated more than 900 backpacks full of school supplies for Tarrant County children. Chapters were encouraged to bring donations to benefit Community Partners of Tarrant County and Our Community Our Kids.
The two charitable organizations strive to leverage the strengths of community providers to meet the needs of local children, youth, and families.
"It is important to donate so that we can give back to those in need and support the city of Fort Worth that does so much for FFA members by hosting our convention," said Bailey Smith of Bridgeland FFA.
When members heard about the project, they were more than happy to donate to the cause.
Sudan FFA member Julian Azua says he is not only excited to help out students in need but hopes he can take the stress off of teachers who often buy supplies for their students.
"I am so thankful that I can help with this cause, and I hope I can change at least one person's life," Azua said.
As the week wrapped up and supply collection ended, members of the Arlington FFA coordinated the delivery of the items to the recipients.
Day of Service - Hosted by Weimar FFA
For years, the Weimar FFA has coordinated and hosted an annual "Day of Service" preceding the summer's state convention.
This past July, the theme was "Keep Fort Worth Beautiful," as 1,200 members participated in clean-up and landscaping opportunities at 15 different park locations across the city.
Fort Worth Herd Service Day
The day following their election, the newly elected Texas FFA officers kicked off their year of service with a day of service! To give back to the convention host city of Fort Worth, they spent Saturday morning with Fort Worth Herd volunteering around the horse barn.
The Old West comes to life before your eyes during the world's only twice-daily cattle drive presented by the Fort Worth Herd. Real Texas cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down East Exchange Avenue daily in the Stockyards National Historic District.
The team helped with raking the horse walker path, oiling saddles and bridles, power-washing the fly blankets, skid steer, UTV, and helped muck chores, all in hopes of giving the drover team a break as they prepare for their twice-daily cattle drive.
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