POINT PLEASANT — The National FFA Organization recently awarded more than $400,000 in rural youth development grants to 65 local FFA chapters in 19 states across the country. The Mason County Vocational FFA was one of the chapters that received a grant.

To be eligible for the grant, FFA members must live in rural areas and submit a competitive proposal for a service-learning project which successfully addresses a local issue or need.

Sam Nibert, one of the chapter’s FFA advisors and agriculture instructor at the Mason County Career Center (MCCC), said the local chapter plans to use the $4,000 to fund their project on agriculture awareness throughout the community.

“Everyone is very excited about this opportunity,” Nibert said, “even the students.”

The project will include various activities during the annual Showmanship Clinic, hosting a career day at the MCCC for all Mason County high school students and holding a “Build-a-Lego-Barn” for elementary students. All of the activities will focus on different age groups and experience levels in the agriculture industry.

The chapter’s main goal for the grant will be to not only teach the public about the agriculture industry, but to also try and achieve a closer relationship with all citizens of Mason County.

The “Living to Serve” grants will continue the outreach to rural youth and will support service-learning projects that impact local community needs.

The grants are administered by the USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the National FFA Organization.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 506,199 student members, all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture, as part 7,429 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st Congress of the United States, and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.