Bread Riot, a local nonprofit organization, donated $500 to the West Rowan Middle School Future Farmers of America chapter.

Dottie Hoy, president of the organization, and Teri Davies, a member of the board, presented the check to FFA President Aiden Best on Oct. 17.

Also on hand for the presentation were Vice President Salone Vinson; member Brooklynn Owens; Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor Eva Ray and Regional Ag Education Coordinator Jason Chester.

Davies said that they wanted to share with the students because they as an organization encourage farm to table food and if they “could reach this age level and talk to them about what their hopes and dreams are regarding the Future Farmers of America, that they would be a great resource.”

Excited to receive the funds, Ray said they have plans to do some expanding on the animals and the quality of their program so they “can be better at shows and the kids can get a little more experience with animals.”

Ray said that they maybe could take the program “to the next level,” and not only improve their showmanship but “have a little more of a presence kid wise.”

Vinson said they were also going to use some of the money to get more feed and hay for their animals

Best said that receiving the money means a lot to the group “because we can do different stuff, like get bigger gardens and teach people.”

The money, said Hoy, came from Bread Riot’s funds, fundraising and donations, and is the second $500 donation they have been able to give to a local FFA group.

“We like to give money away if you can use it toward a good end,” said Davies, “and it sounds like you are.”

She added that they would like to visit with them later and see what the group has done with the funds and how perhaps they could use more in the future.

The middle school FFA chapter has multiple animals that they show at different fairs and breed association shows, said Ray, They currently have nine rabbits, three female goats and two chickens in their program that they show.

FFA member Brooklynn Owens said she is an animal lover and that’s what drew her to the program.

She said the club was fun because of being able to be with the animals, and said she knew she wanted to be a part of the group as soon as I got to middle school because of her love for animals.

At the various events, Owens shows goats, Vinson shows rabbits, and Best has and shows sheep.

And while not all of the students go out to show animals, they can all benefit from the funds because Ray said she teaches her ag students, all of whom are FFA members, how to show in her ag classes and they do mock shows in class as well.

“We had a mock goat show and a mock rabbit show, and I went over how to show them, what the ins and outs are to showing, even if they don’t go anywhere else to show.”

Serving as the regional coordinator for the central part of North Carolina, Chester said that West Middle is one of the schools in the area he serves if they need help in ag education or the classroom or supervised agricultural experience.

Chester said he is also personally involved with Bread Riot, “so it made sense to come and support them because I think both organizations are doing good things for Ag and Ag education in North Carolina.