The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Future Farmers of America earns grant
$2,950 FFA grant will support community visits
MIDDLETOWN » The Mattabesett Chapter of Future Farmers of America at Middletown High School has been awarded a $2,950 grant by the National FFA Organization as part of the Yearlong Living to Serve grant program.
The local chapter is affiliated with the Middletown Agricultural Science and Technology Department at Middletown High School, according to a press release.
The nationwide program provides grant money to local FFA chapters to support year-long service-learning programs that address needs within the focus areas of community safety, environmental responsibility, hunger, health and nutrition and community engagement.
“Our chapter plans to help promote the benefits of animal-assisted therapy by expanding our Animal Ambassadors team which was established in 2016,” Animal Science teacher Amanda Thomson said in a prepared statement. “We have pet therapy visits with students at Middletown High as well as other community facilities, such as nursing homes, preschools, libraries and From left, Mattabeset FFA animal ambassadors Karlee Martin (holding Rennie), Melissa Hass and Heather Cashman (with Daphne) are among the vo-ag teams
that visit area nursing homes, preschools, libraries and hospitals. hospitals.”
Current animal-therapy teams at MHS include dogs, cats, miniature horses, rabbits and guinea pigs. The grant will support the training and evaluation of new team members, Thomson said in the release.
Area facilities interested in participating in therapy animal visits are encouraged to contact Thomson at thomsona@mpsct.org.
The National FFA program provides nearly $338,000 to FFA chapters in 35 states and Puerto Rico. The MHS program has received multiple state and regional awards for its program and draws students from throughout the area. Students enrolled in the program take a full class load at Middletown High in addition to their agricultural science curriculum.