Learning by Doing Grant

The Ag teachers from Oley Valley High School located in Berks County, converted a storage room into a small model veterinary clinic to provide an authentic work area for their students participating in the Vet Tech A and Vet Tech B courses.  The Pennsylvania FFA Foundation awarded a Learning by Doing Grant to Ag Teacher Mrs. Kacey Rice for the purchase of ultrasound and grooming equipment which is now being used as part of the model veterinary clinic. Since the equipment became available through the grant, students have used the equipment to demonstrate knowledge they gained in the Vet Tech class including performing an ultrasound on a class guinea pig and using the grooming tools to properly trim the nails of a cat and a turtle.  Mrs. Rice reported "This equipment is helping to better prepare our students for careers in the animal care industry by providing them with hands-on experience with tools and equipment commonly used by individuals in the field." 

Jamie Finch was awarded a Learning by Doing Grant for the purchase of a printer for use in her horticulture class at Waynesburg Central High School located in Greene County. "The printer expanded the learning opportunities for student in my program by giving them an opportunity to learn how to use current agricultural technology, while reducing the amount of time previously allocated to labeling plants in the greenhouse," explained Ms. Finch.  

In the fall of 2020, Mackenzie Kerkeslager of Cedar Crest FFA (Lebanon County) received a $500 Learning by Doing Grant for her ice cream production Supervised Agricultural Experience.  With the funds from the grant, Mackenzie purchased an old-fashioned ice cream maker with a motor and storage containers for the finished product.  Mackenzie not only makes the ice cream, but she researches the recipes and experiments with the process to learn best practices of making ice cream. "It's not every day someone [walks] into class and gets to make strawberry ice cream for a period"  stated Mackenzie.  She said she enjoys teaching the ice cream-making process to classmates and fellow FFA members.  As she becomes more skilled in the art of ice cream production, Mackenzie hopes to be able to share her knowledge with the IU kids and younger agricultural education classes.  Using the ice cream machine, Mackenzie made ice cream which was used by her chapter to make milkshakes for in-school events.  Mackenzie recently sold $75 worth of her ice cream and looks forward expanding her business in the near future.  

Ellie and Kayla, members of Oley Valley FFA, began their Supervised Agricultural Experience project in 2018, when they discussed their mutual passion for horticulture and their desire to build a greenhouse. To get started, Ellie and Kayla developed a business plan, partnership agreement and marketing ideas.  They finished building their greenhouse, but need a heating source.  The heating source will allow Ellie and Kayla to continue growing plants through the cold seasons.   Throughout the process of planning and building the greenhouse, Ellie and Kayla have gained invaluable entrepreneurial and construction skills; they have learned the value of teamwork and open communication.  Ellie and Kayle credit their high school Plant Science class for cultivating their love of working with plants.  

Garin Hoy, a member of Tyrone Area FFA, breeds sheep as his Supervised Agricultural Experience.  He was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing grant for sheep jugs, a barrier of protection for ewes.  Sheep jugs allow bonding between the ewes and lambs prior to being released back into the herd; barriers also aid in ewe examinations and provide a safe space for lambs who are unable to feed on their mother.  In addition to using the sheep jugs for his supervised agricultural experience, Garin also plans to loan the jugs to fellow FFA members who may need them for their projects, as well as use them at school as holding pens when goats and sheep are brought in for hands-on opportunities.  

Michael Lewis, a 2020-21 freshman from Bald Eagle FFA received a Learning by Doing Grant in the Fall of 2020 to expand his apiary.  With the grant money, Michael purchased educational books and seminars to become more knowledgeable and efficient at beekeeping.  He said he appreciates the grant money and the opportunity to expand his apiary because "it gets me outside working with nature while learning the skills to start my business".  

As a freshman and 1st-year agricultural education student and FFA member at Central Columbia High School, Ellis Turner was awarded a 2019 Learning by Doing Grant to start a freezer beef entrepreneurship Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).  The freezer beef project proved to be a success, especially as consumer demand increased for locally sourced meat during Covid.   

Coming off the heels of his success, Ellis decided to expand his SAE to include a Freezer Pork Entrepreneurship.  In the fall of 2020, Ellis was awarded $500 through the Pennsylvania FFA Foundation’s Learning by Doing Grant and $1000 from the National FFA SAE grant.  With his award money, Ellis purchased 8 sixty-pound feeder pigs, a feeder with feed, and gates for his pig enclosure.  

Followed closely by agricultural education instructor(s), FFA students learn how to apply to their SAE project what they are learning in the classroom. “Since the beginning of this project, I have learned how to formulate a proper feed ration and help to make other decisions that will have a positive effect on my animals,” shared Ellis.  Additionally, Ellis has designed a brochure of his products for his customers, researched, interviewed, selected a butcher, and researched the application process to sell directly to customers.  He hopes to reinvest his profits to continue to expand the project over the next few years.     

Reese Gabreski, a member of Spudgrowers FFA in Coudersport, PA, includes beef production as one of his Supervised Agricultural Experiences.  He was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant to expand his knowledge of beef nutrition.  Reese researched the nutritional recommendations to meet the needs of his pregnant heifers.  Based on his research, Reese purchased equipment and feed with the grant money.  As a result, his pregnant heifers produced two well-developed Hereford-Angus cross calves, one bull and one heifer, born in April 2020.  Reese stated "My start to having a beef operation has opened up so many doors in my life with food production, farming equipment knowledge, making my own hay, and seeing the science involved in breeding my own herd. In addition, my beef project has begun to help me mold a plan for my future in agriculture."

Kutztown FFA advisor and educator Victoria Brown applied for a Learning by Doing Grant for the 2020-21 grant cycle.  The idea was to have her students hatch, raise, butcher, and donate broiler chickens.  Thirty-two students from the Large Veterinary Science and Food Science and Safety courses at Kutztown Highschool participated in the project.  During the project, students conducted a feed trial to compare how various amounts of protein in the diet can impact the growth of the chickens. Ms. Brown stated, "This project truly allowed students to embody the FFA motto as they took what they were learning in class and applied it to caring for the chickens and processing them."  Originally, the plan was to donate just the meat, however, they had vegetable plants remaining from a recent sale. As a result, Kutztown FFA was able to donate 24 chickens totaling over 64 pounds of meat, over 300 vegetable plants, and 150 grocery and personal hygiene items to their local food pantry.  Ms. Brown plans to continue with this project with her future agricultural education students.  

Northeast Bradford FFA received a Learning by Doing Grant in 2021 to implement a Food Wast Composting system at the high school.  The grant, combined with a National FFA Living to serve grant, was used to purchase food waste receptacles for the cafeteria and the foodservice kitchen. In addition, a bin system was built by students to store the waste. Shredded paper from the school’s office is being used to mix with the food waste. Funds also purchased tools for mixing and a shredder to break up the waste materials to speed up the composting process. There are approximately 15 FFA students who are collecting, layering, and mixing the compost. This program removes approximately 100 pounds of food waste from the landfill weekly. The finished humus product will be used in the agriculture programs, raised beds as well as landscaping material on the school’s grounds. The program serves 400 students and staff at Northeast Bradford High School in Rome, PA.  Teacher and FFA advisor Brian Pifer reported "The Learning by Doing Grant allowed the FFA students to understand the issue of food waste and do something about it.  The amount of waste collected and composted is a small amount on the global scale, yet the students are doing their small part towards a sustainable planet." 
 

The H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant to purchase trees not found on the Fort Cherry School District Property.  The school district owns over 60 acres of property which includes native trees.  However, many of the trees at the Pennsylvania FFA Forestry Career Development Event could not be found on the school grounds. Together with the school's technology department, the H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter made QR code plaques for each tree which will be linked to a video made by one of the ag students, explaining the tree.  This will allow generations of FFA members the ability to correctly identify trees around the school property as well as prepare FFA members for the Pennsylvania FFA Forestry Career Development Event.  

Douglas Masser was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant for agriculture teachers in order to purchase binoculars for his Natural Resources classes at Pequea Valley High School.  Students in Mr. Masser's class learn about bird anatomy, behavior, and physiology in the classroom.  The students then use the binoculars to apply their new knowledge of bird identification and behavior to collect real-life data and analyze their findings.  The goal is for the students to be able to provide a recommendation to the school on the current biodiversity of the birds on campus and provide recommendations on habitat improvements to the school administration. Additionally, these skills may be helpful for students interested in the Wildlife or Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event teams.  

In the fall of 2020, Athens FFA was awarded funds from the Learning by Doing Grant for their Companion Animal Project.  With the funds from the Learning by Doing Grant, the advisors at Athens were able to support a local business owner, who custom-built 12 cages specifically for the STEM building at the High School.  Funds were also used to purchase necessary equipment such as feeders and waterers, trash cans, a dustpan, a small broom, toys, and enrichment for the rabbits, as well as food and shavings.  Three small portable rabbit cages were also purchased for some students to take the rabbits home for the summer.  Ms. Sarabeth Alderfer, FFA Advisor and Agricultural Education Teacher at Athens High School reported "At the end of the year we talked about some of the basics of taking care of rabbits."  Ms. Alderfer shared "If I am being honest, having the rabbits at school is very relaxing for us teachers as well. We have had several people come out at the end of the year just to pet or hold the rabbits. It was nice helping some students calm down before finals and the Keystone exams."

In the 2021-2022 school year, Athens FFA plan on integrating the rabbits into their program in several ways. 
1. They hope to have the freshman keep records of the rabbits as an introduction to Supervised Agriculture Experiences (SAE) and the AET record-keeping system. 
2. Teaching about rabbits and companion animals in the Animal Science and Veterinary Science Classes. Allowing the students to interact with them and get more hands-on experience.
3. Create an unpaid placement SAE experience for a student who might be able and/or interested in taking care of the rabbits over the weekends, holidays, and or summers. 
4. Encourage all of the FFA members (and possibly other students in the school) by having stress relief time with the rabbits, specifically before large tests. 
5. Use the cages for other animals during petting zoos
 

Jasmin VanSant was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant for agriculture teachers in order to purchase materials required for a poultry processing station.  The equipment purchased with grant funds was used to demonstrate to Ms.VanSant's Food Science students and Poultry Evaluation team the proper processing steps of chickens from butchering to bagging. During this experience, students processed 7 chickens themselves and were able to take the fresh chicken carcasses home with them to eat. Her Food Science class focused on the farm to fork initiative and described the process food takes to get to our plates.  Additionally, Ms. VanSant's Poultry Evaluation team learned more about the production of poultry and put into practice the skills they had prepared for all year. The team graded each of the carcasses, learned how to properly cut a chicken carcass into individual cuts, and then practiced poultry parts ID. This allowed these learners to witness the entire poultry process and put into perspective the importance of poultry management and evaluation. This experience exemplified the true power and importance of “learning by doing."

The Grand Canyon FFA was awarded a chapter grant in 2018 through the Learning by Doing Grant program.  They requested funds to build a chicken BBQ cooker trailer.  FFA students were guided by alumni members to create the Chicken BBQ Cooker Trailer that was funded by the grant. Students completed all aspects of the project under the guidance of the alumni members including welding, cutting, installing, and creating. They learned to troubleshoot and create an accurate bill of materials. Students also learned more about business through organizing the chicken BBQs that are able to be conducted as a result of the creation of this cooker. Students are able to estimate costs, sell a product to the community, and calculate profits. Students working in the BBQ cooker trailer learn about food safety and customer service.  The money raised from selling BBQ chicken and renting out the cooker to other organizations, will support the school's agriculture education classes and Grand Canyon FFA.