By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow New 1
Local High school FFA, 4-H and HOSA chapters can now apply for up to $5,000 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Raising Hope program.
In February 2025 Barren County’s FFA chapter hosted a new farmers and first responders appreciation breakfast, minted custom “challenge coins” and created first-aid kits with the assistance of a $5,000 grant given to the chapter through the Raising Hope program.
The program that “raises awareness about farm safety, health risks, and farm rescue, stressing the importance of training for farm-specific rescues to enhance safety for farmers, workers, and families” is using $200,000 to provide grants for chapters to “host events dedicated to farm safety, farm rescue, and farmers’ mental and physical health,” a department of agriculture press release stated.
The $200,000 commitment from the program for grants is an increase of $75,000 compared to last year’s funding. Forty-two FFA chapters received grants, according to the department press release.
“As Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner, I am proud to support this initiative that empowers our high school student chapters to address vital issues in agriculture,” Commissioner Shell said. “By focusing on farm safety, farmers’ health, and farm rescue, we are investing in the well-being of our farming communities and ensuring that our next generation of leaders is well-equipped to face these challenges. These grants help with our commitment to safeguard the future of agriculture in Kentucky.”
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