I-CASH awarded 10 youth grants in 2023
AC/GC FFA
The AC/GC FFA Chapter will be developing a school garden to provide locally grown produce for the AC/GC School District. Students will plant, harvest, and deliver the food they grow to the school nutritional staff. Students will also learn about food safety and agricultural safety as they navigate growing their own food.
Central Community FFA
Central Community FFA will bring awareness to farmers about protecting themselves from ultraviolet rays and thank farmers for their efforts in food and animal production. Central Community FFA plans to distribute UV protection materials such as sunglasses, SPF lip balm, sunscreen, hats, and more to farmers in the field and at local co-ops.
Clarke County Extension and Outreach
Clarke County ISU Extension and Outreach will develop an educational program that educates students and farmers about chemical and medication safety. 4-H youth will gather chemical look-a-like and safety resources and use these to educate their fellow classmates and local farmers. They will also put together to-go bags for local farmers that include resources, PPE, and chemical storage signs.
Floyd County Extension & Charles City FFA
Floyd County Extension and Charles City FFA will work together to deliver safety and mental health resources and appreciation to local farmers in the form of resource filled 5-gallon buckets. The mental health and safety resources will be delivered during harvest season and will include first aid kits, snacks, educational mental health information, hats, gloves, and more.
Sioux Central FFA
Sioux Central FFA will speak with farmers at grain terminal locations about respiratory health and hearing. During their annual Feed the Farmers Day, students will visit with farmers at grain terminals and listen to farmer experiences and share resources to help them make safe choices.
South Hardin FFA
South Hardin FFA students will distribute 5-gallon buckets to containing safety items to farmers and discuss the importance of safety while operating large equipment, staying alert and focused while machinery is moving, and provide some resources for producers to use to prevent accidents.
Southwest Valley FFA
Southwest Valley FFA’s project will work to address roadway safety. To reduce roadway accidents, they will purchase reflective stickers that go on the back and sides of equipment and purchase SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) signs to distribute to local farmers. Students will also help apply the reflective stickers SMVs and promote the availability of these materials and services through social media and local media.
South Winneshiek FFA
South Winneshiek FFA will assemble “Be a Warrior, Take a Break” snack bags that encourage farmers to take a break during harvest season. The bags will be distributed at local co-ops, and students will promote this activity on social media, the school website, and local media.
Washington County Extension
Washington County 4-H and ISU extension and outreach will continue their popular “Stay Safe, Take a Break” program, where students meet farmers in the field during harvest and remind them to take break and provide them with a resource bag. This year “Stay Safe, Take a Break” will focus on fire safety and distribute fire extinguishers to the farmers they interact with. Youth members will also create a display about the “Stay Safe, Take a Break” project for the county fair.
Wayne FFA
The Wayne County FFA Chapters will work together to cook, assemble, and distribute over 400 meals to Wayne County farmers and their crews during harvest season. This year, they will distribute fire extinguishers along side the meals and speak with farmers about fire and equipment safety.