South Winneshiek FFA gets $2,000 grant

The South Winneshiek FFA Chapter has received a $2,000 "Working Here Fund" grant from Farm Credit Services of America.  The money will be used to purchase a dual fodder and micro green-system and seeds for their "Going Green to Feed" project.

The fodder system will produce up to 13 pounds of fodder or micro greens daily.  When producing fodder, the feedstuff can be used for students' 4-H and FFA livestock projects as a high fiber, high energy feed with enormous benefits to livestock.  When used as a micro-green system, students can produce micro-greens to use within the district and produce micro-greens for local farmers markets and co-ops. Micro-greens include various seed sprouts.   The FFA Chapter plans to have fodder and micro-greens ready to sell locally starting March and throughout the school year.

South Winn teacher and FFA advisor Melissa Brincks said, "Adding a fodder and micro-green system to our agriculture science program would help educate students about fodder and microgreens which are uncommon in the Midwest. Students will also learn about the business structure, and the marketing and production of fodder and microgreen systems."