For the News Tribune
KEYSER — The Mineral County FFA is teaming up with Tabby Woy’s science classes at Keyser High School to sponsor a local food drive to benefit the Faith in Action Food Pantry.
The groups are currently collecting non-perishable food and are challenging other high school and technical center clubs, as well as community civic organizations and individuals, to join in their effort to collect enough food to fill a hay wagon in time for a holiday season donation to the food pantry.
Donations can be given through FFA at the Mineral County Technical Center or by contacting Woy at the Science Department at Keyser High School.
This campaign is also part of ongoing efforts of the Living to Serve project, which emphasizes
the importance of service-learning projects and the importance of giving back to the community and meeting an identified community need.
Another goal of the food collection drive is to promote agricultural and science literacy through emphasis on the “Farm to the Fork” program which FFA also hopes to promote.
“The challenges facing agriculture are challenges facing all of us as we must meet our present needs and at the same time prepare for the needs of a growing population through increasing agricultural productivity while conserving our natural resources,” said FFA advisor Carol Webb.
Among the more pressing issues are the importance of food safety in both the local and global economies, the role science and technology is playing in increasing food production, and the need to double current food production in order to feed the world population, which is anticipated to hit nine billion by the year 2050.
“The mission of FFA is make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing
their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success,” Webb says.
FFA membership is available to students enrolled in agricultural education classes taught at the Mineral County Technical Center and Frankfort High School.
