The State Fair of Texas Brings Agriculture Awareness to the Heart of Dallas
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | Author: Kailyn O’Brien
Students across the state embraced the Texan spirit by promoting agriculture, education and community involvement at the 2023 State Fair of Texas Ag Awareness Day. The State Fair of Texas hosted 6,603 students for their annual event. These students were representatives from their local FFA, 4-H, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapters.
What is Ag Awareness Day?
"Students were encouraged to bring canned goods." Said Elise Sharp, Texas FFA State First Vice President. Collectively, 25,912 pounds of canned goods were donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
"Texas FFA, 4-H, and FCCLA state officers spent a day at the North Texas Food Bank and sorted cans and ended up putting together over 12,000 meals for those experiencing homelessness," Sharp said.
The food bank has provided over 144 million meals to people in need. The food can drive put on by the State Fair of Texas, is their largest food drive of the year.
Blake Koether, Texas FFA State Vice President said, "It's about getting young agriculturalists out into the community and showing the community of Dallas what agriculture is all about."
Whether you are in the flatlands of the panhandle, or in the heart of Dallas, agriculture is everywhere. A key mission of Ag Awareness Day is to promote how agriculture is used in our daily lives.
"Agriculture is 100% in urban areas," Koether said. "Area five in Texas FFA is the largest area and it is centered around the DFW area. These FFA programs in the area help build agriculturalists, but they also help build our leaders."
How can I support the future of agriculture?
"In order to sustain a future in agriculture, the focus has to be on the youth," Koether said. "Our young leaders in FFA, 4-H, and FCCLA who are going to be at the State Fair of Texas throughout the rest of the month are going to be the future of agriculture. We need to make sure we are supporting them in any way we can."
One way to support the youth of agriculture is by "getting out and supporting the fair because all the money that is going into the fair is eventually going to get to the youth and the Dallas/Fort Worth area." Koether said.
The State Fair of Texas has awarded over $17.4 million back to the youth through their Big Tex Scholarship Program. For more information regarding The State Fair of Texas or the Big Tex Scholar Program, visit www.bigtex.com.
|