The Riverland Community College Agricultural and Food Science Technology Club and Austin High School FFA Chapter participated in their annual “Feed-A-Farmer” project on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

The collaboration, which included collegiate and high school students from the Austin area, shared their appreciation for agriculture across southeastern Minnesota by providing lunches and refreshments to area farmers at the Viafield grain elevator in London and at the Northern Country Co-op in Oakland. Lunches and refreshments were donated by Austin HyVee.

“Agriculture is a vital component of our regional economy, and showing our appreciation for the hard work our area farmers do is vital for our continued success as an industry,” Riverland Community College Agricultural and Food Science Technology Club advisor Nick Schiltz said. “This engagement affords students an off-campus service project where they are exposed to agriculture, the receiving of grain during harvest, and communicating with producers.”

“Austin FFA members were really excited to be involved with a such a great community project – ‘Feed-A-Farmer,’” said Linnay Schweisthal, Austin FFA Advisor. “Having the chance to interact with area farmers during this busy time was great for both the students and farmers.

“We received many thanks and appreciation from all the farmers and farm workers that enjoyed the sack lunches that were provided.”

Riverland Agricultural and Food Science Technology Club Treasurer and Austin High School FFA member Codie Wolfe said, “It feels great to give back to the people who work hard everyday to feed us. We want to thank Austin Hy-Vee for the donations to make it all possible.”

Club reporter for the collegiate group, Alexandria Hagen, agreed.

“It was fun learning how things work in the elevator and the process farmers go through to successfully deliver their crop to market.”

FFA is the largest youth organization in the United States with membership over 600,000. Minnesota FFA has maintained membership over 10,000 for the past few years and membership continues to grow every.

Austin FFA membership is growing every year. Members participate at the regional and state level contests called Career Development Events which range from Livestock Judging to Floriculture to Prepared Public Speaking and many areas in between. Leadership development is a large aspect within the chapter as members attend various camps and conferences that are geared toward leadership and developing well-rounded citzens. Austin FFA is involved with the community though community service projects and helping area organizations with their planned activities.

Austin FFA and Riverland Community College Agriculture and Food Science Technology Club members said they are excited to join forces to plan events together to bring high school and college students together for the overall goal of promoting agriculture and all its aspects.

The Riverland Community College Agricultural and Food Science Technology Club seeks to promote premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The club is the only Minnesota FFA Alumni chapter to incorporate Collegiate FFA with the National Postsecondary Agriculture Students Organization (PAS). The advisers for the club are Agricultural Science faculty instructors Nick Schiltz and Willy Mekeel. The Austin High School FFA Chapter is led by Adviser Linnay Schweisthal.

Follow the Riverland Agriculture and Food Science Technology Club on Facebook for the latest service project and leadership activities they pursue