With National FFA Week around the corner, this is a great time to host a fundraising event. FFA Week can highlight your chapter, while also including the community to raise funds for the program. Chapters all across the country have different activities they host to raise money, supporting their members to go to events such as the National FFA Convention or expand their ag program, and so much more!
While many community members want to support their local FFA program, it is also up to the FFA chapter to organize a successful fundraising event. While browsing ideas for a fundraiser, a chapter must first think of what will work best for their program. It is important to keep an open mind while selecting different fundraisers. While these are just a few different fundraising events from chapters across the country, be sure to pick the one that will work for your chapter.
In-school fundraisers
- A great fundraiser is a teacher pancake feed during FFA Week. Many FFA Chapters just ask for a free-will donation. You can even open it up to the whole school — contact your local grocery store and see if they would be willing to donate!
- A fan favorite is the Country Meats. Known for their good selection and tasty options, these are sure to be a hit. It is recommended to set up at basketball games to have a greater impact.
- Some FFA Chapters are able to have a snack shack in the ag room. This is just an area where you can sell beef sticks, chocolate bars, soda, chips, and popcorn. Advertise it to the whole school and let them know that you sell food in the Ag room. Not only does it bring in money, but it also gets people to see what FFA is all about.
Involve the community
- When it comes to the community, not only do they want to invest in FFA, but they also want to invest in the students. It helps if you can sell something handmade. For example, sorghum, apple sauce, a plant sale, labor auction, and so much more.
- If you are lucky enough to live near a Culver’s, many of their restaurants will donate a portion of the day’s sales to their local FFA chapter. Often, FFA members will even join in the fun by helping to serve guests at the restaurant.
- Sellcookiedough.com has no minimum order, and the community will go crazy for the FFA branded tubs. It’s the only officially licensed FFA fundraiser the supports the National FFA Organization when your chapter participates.
- Bloom has made a huge commitment to FFA to give back 80% (70% to local chapters/ 10% to grants) of all fundraising profits when chapters sell the FFA Travel and Savings Cards. With their CEO growing up on a farm, this program was designed to help give back as much as possible to support our future leaders.
Think outside of the box
- One of the easiest fundraisers also happens to be the most fun for the students — Egg My Yard. Parents sign up their yards to get “egged” the night before Easter. Then the FFA members come late at night and place Easter eggs with candy throughout the yard for the kids to find in the morning. Not only do the members get to work together and make memories, they are also raising money for their chapter.
- Pass the pig is a favorite for many students. If someone breeds pigs in the chapter, have them bring a newborn around town to local businesses (with fair warning). In order to get you to leave, they give the chapter a donation. Not only does this serve as a fundraiser, but also an education opportunity. When they give you the money, they can tell you which business to visit next.
- If your chapter is strong in the horse environment, consider a barrel race. Sponsors have the opportunity to be advertised on the arena fences and rails and the chapter can keep the profits after paying for use of the property.
No matter what fundraising event you decide to put on, be sure it is well organized and make sure it is a FUN-draiser. Don’t forget about the power of social media in all your fundraising needs — including GoFundMe.
