West Central FFA members have been putting in some time in the Ag Ed Department greenhouse.   Transplanting of vegetable seedlings has begun.

Three varieties of Tomatoes, two varieties of Peppers and a single variety of Broccoli are now thriving in the greenhouse.  West Central FFA members and Ag Ed Students transplanted and are caring for more than 3,000 vegetable plants.

Vegetable plants will be available free to all West Central School District patrons for spring planting in 2019.  Attend one of our Gardening Workshops or come in for our annual vegetable plant giveaway on May 15, 2019 to pick up free plants for your garden.

The FFA plans to develop events and activities promoting health and wellness in the community.  South Dakota  was ranked the 34th most obese state in the United States in 2017 with an obesity rate of 17 percent in children and adolescents ages 2-19.  In the West Central School District, 21.7 percent are considered obese or overweight according to their BMI. Statistics show 44 percent of students at the Hartford or Humboldt Elementary Schools are overweight or obese. The initiative will have two primary areas of focus; educating the community about producing, preserving, and eating fresh vegetables, and developing habits for a healthy lifestyle to include diet, exercise, and disease prevention.  Funds will be expended to produce vegetable plants, which will be donated to community members for home use with the understanding that excess produce will be donated to help feed the hungry in the area.  The grant will also finance materials for educational workshops to support the objectives of the grant.  FFA members will work collaboratively to develop curriculum and implement educational workshops that focus on vegetable gardening as well as developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that focuses on fitness and nutrition.