There will be no ag banquet hosted by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce this year, so in substitute for the event, the Chamber gathered with representatives from DeWitt County FFA Chapters to donate the leftover funds from their ag banquet account.
Chamber Executive Director, Marian Brisard says interest in the annual event has declined over the years and so the Chamber decided to use the funds from that event they had leftover to support the FFA chapters of Blue Ridge and Clinton.
According to Jacqueline Meisner, FFA Advisor for the Blue Ridge Chapter, she and her students were very excited to receive the $1,000 surprise gift. She says this will their officer retreat in the summer.
Lee Deal is the Clinton FFA Chapter Advisor and she, like Meisner, was surprised to learn of the amount the donation would be. She explains they are going to be able to do a lot with the $1,000.
Clinton FFA numbers are up by 20 this year. Meisner indicates Blue Ridge has also increased its membership this year and is pleased to report around 80 to 90 percent of their members are participating in the various opportunities offered by FFA.
