Three In A Row: Northview’s Food For America Program Wins Florida’s Top Honor

July 4, 2014

Thursday, the Northview High School FFA Chapter was awarded the first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award during the Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando. It was the  chapter’s third consecutive first place award, which is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Formerly known the Food for America program, the program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level.

The local Food for America Program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of elementary students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more at the Northview campus.  The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.

Earlier in the year, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read ag-related books to students.

The Northview FFA program began implementing plans for their Fresh From Florida program in the early fall of the 2013-2014 school year. They sent letters to schools and potential vendors letting them know to save the date for the 2014 activity.

The day of the  event, students from surrounding elementary schools were invited for a day on the farm. They traveled to various booths that were manned by FFA members and community partners.  Students were able to see animals, discuss the amount of land that is available for farming, as well as  seed germination necklaces.

The Northview program was able to impact over 1,800 students, and they are continually looking for ways to improve their agenda in order to impact more students in the future.

Pictured top: Northview FFA members pose with their first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award Thursday afternoon in Orlando. Pictured inset and below: Scenes from the March 2014 Northview Fresh from Florida program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Three In A Row: Northview’s Food For America Program Wins Florida’s Top Honor”

  1. Wilma Gibsonwilma on July 4th, 2014 11:10 pm

    Congratulations to Mr. Byars and the whole F.F.A, for the great job you do each year.

  2. patti on July 4th, 2014 10:43 am

    I agree with Gayle. CONGRADULATIONS NORTHVIEW FFA!! You earned it! and I’m so proud for all of you! You do a great service. Some of these children do not know what is raised on a farm, from produce, eggs, chickens, cattle, sheep, goats, cattle , pork. I can remember when one of our sons were in elementary school, the teacher asked if the students knew where meat came from. A little girl said, “from the store”. The teacher then asked where it came from originally. My son then said, from farms that raise cattle and other animals. Hard to believe, but there are still children who have never experienced farming in all its parts.

  3. Gayle Weaver on July 4th, 2014 1:06 am

    Congratulations to an awesome sponsor and an awesome group of young adults. Mr. Perry Byars and his FFA Chapter Officers and Members work extremely hard, each and every day, without a pause all year long. It is extremely rewarding to see them recognized for their dedication and hard work, but more important is the recognition of their dedication and love for what has made America great. Happy Fourth of July to Mr. Byars and his FFA Chapter!