Members of the Triton FFA Chapter participated in a meal packing event during the Indiana FFA held Foundations In Reaching Excellence (F. I. R. E.) Conference to close out National FFA Week in February. FFA members from across the state of Indiana came together at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center as part of the F. I. R. E. Conference. They filled baskets with food items to take back to deserving members of their local communities. During the weekend conference, 100 baskets were filled by FFA members for those in need.
Indiana FFA asked each FFA chapter to bring food items to fill the baskets. These items included: canned corn, canned green beans, macaroni and cheese, and boxed potatoes. With the generous support of Ceres Solutions Cooperative, the Indiana FFA provided the baskets, decorations, and gift cards for those in need across Indiana. Ceres Solutions is a cooperative that invests each year in reducing food insecurity in the Indiana and Michigan communities where the company does business. The gift cards will fund the meal’s protein, such as turkey,
chicken, or ham, for families. Representatives from Ceres Solutions Cooperative Ascended the meal packing event virtually in a show of support for the students.
Laurel Mann, a Ceres staff member, observed, “It is so rewarding to see these student leaders come together to serve our local communities. On behalf of the employees and farmer-owners of our company, we are extremely proud to support FFA.”
The Foundations In Reaching Excellence (F.I.R.E) Conference is a 3-day conference held at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center. This year’s conference was held both in-person and virtually to allow as many students as possible to participate. Limited member capacity, masks, and social distancing were required during the in-person conference. F. I. R. E. is open to any Indiana high school junior and senior FFA member. This year’s F. I. R. E. Conference focused on learning about life after high school and advocating for agriculture while developing the students’ mission and vision statements.
The F. I. R. E. Conference’s title sponsors are the Army ROTC, Ivy Tech Community College, and Wabash Valley Power Alliance.
