When Chrisman FFA members in Illinois heard about the Can-Do Challenge, their entire chapter joined to help their community. The challenge, organized by Bayer and Luke Bryan, tasked FFA chapters in California, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois with creating a farm-themed structure made out of canned goods and nonperishable items, which would then be donated to their local communities. 

To spur donations, Chrisman FFA created a healthy competition between its elementary, middle and high school students to see which group could collect the most items. It also made an Amazon wishlist, so people could conveniently purchase and deliver the items to the school.

To showcase their work, the chapter painted a farm-themed backdrop, complete with a rainbow, which they said represented hope after tough times.

Chrisman Can Do!

“Our community got a lot of food in the long run,” says Chrisman FFA officer Dylan Lucas. Together, it collected over 3,000 items and over 2,300 pounds of food, which was donated to a local food bank and the Cardinal Cupboard, the school district’s pantry that provides food for students in need.

At the end of the competition, Bayer and Bryan’s team looked through the tagged social media posts and chose a winner for each state; the Chrisman FFA Chapter’s hard work paid off. In addition to feeding those in need, Chrisman FFA won the Can-Do Challenge for Illinois, which consisted of a cash prize, tickets to Bryan’s Farm Tour concert in Illinois and the opportunity to meet him in person.

“A food drive can be quite simple, but these students went above and beyond for their communities,” says Richard Meiers, communications manager at Bayer. “You can see the love they have for their communities.”

Between the four states, around 23,000 pounds of food was collected for local food banks, and Bayer and Bryan’s team intend to do more Can-Do Challenges in the future.

After all, the challenge fits right into Bayer’s mission: “Health for all, Hunger for none.”

“And strengthening our relationships with future farmers speaks exactly to who we work with,” Meiers says.

How to Help

Food insecurity — not having access to enough food to meet one’s basic needs — affected around 47.4 million Americans in 2023. FFA members across the country can help address food insecurity, one small step at a time. Here’s how to get FFA members started:

• Start or expand your community garden to donate fresh produce to local food pantries.
• Partner with local farmers to collect surplus crops or products that would otherwise go to waste and donate them to local soup kitchens or food banks.
• Raise funds for a food-packing event and fill bags with easy-to-make meals for students in need to take home.
• Collect donated seeds or starter kits for community members to grow their own fresh vegetables in small containers or windowsill gardens.