Eldorado FFA members developed a way to involve their community and serve their school district.
Starting as a fundraiser for a new greenhouse, the Eldorado FFA Chapter found a way to connect with the community and a new opportunity to fuel their schools with healthy, locally grown vegetables.
Dining With the Community
In late September, Eldorado FFA hosted its first Farm to Table fundraiser. The fundraiser included a dinner open to the public to raise money to purchase a new greenhouse and headhouse. During the fundraiser’s planning and execution, members established valuable connections with local producers and learned the importance of community involvement.
See a Need, Fill a Need
Kevin Morris, president of the chapter, was the project’s lead. When asked what inspired him to do this project, he replied, “ We noticed the need for fresh vegetables in our district and wanted to find a way to fill that need. We also needed a way to fund the installation of a new greenhouse, leading us to create the Farm to Table dinner.”
Planned and Prepared
In planning the event, Morris and fellow officers reached out to numerous local businesses to ask for their support, as well as venues to host the dinner. SolSystems LLC sponsored the night. WP Meat Company and American Family Beef worked with the chapter to provide food for the meal. The local event center St. Stephens on the Hill offered their space to host the meal.
Eldorado FFA officers on the night of the dinner.
![]()
The Big Night
When the night arrived, it was a smashing success. The event garnered support from dozens of community members, inviting them to come out and dine with the chapter for a great cause. The chapter received many monetary donations, contributing to their initial goal of purchasing the new greenhouse. Luckily, their goal was met, allowing the greenhouse to be installed recently.
A Future in the Community
As for the project, Morris knows that it will continue. “We are fully planning on making this an annual thing. We have created a community outreach event that has helped us connect with our community members better, and we plan to continue on that path.”
