Pictured are Warsaw FFA officers, from left, Rylan Cooper, Lillian Haywood, Alyssa Swanson, Breanna Thompson, Kiersten Gagnon, Cadence Gibson, and Anthony Taylor. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Schools.

Press Release

WARSAW — Members of the Warsaw FFA chapter participated in a meal packing event during the Indiana FFA-held Foundations In Reaching Excellence (F.I.R.E.) Conference.

FFA members from across the state of Indiana came together at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center as part of the F.I.R.E. Conference and filled baskets with food items to take back to deserving members of their local communities. Throughout the three weekend conferences, over 200 baskets were filled by FFA members for those in need.

Each FFA chapter was asked to bring food items to fill the baskets. These items included: canned corn, canned green beans, macaroni and cheese, and boxed potatoes. The Indiana FFA, with the generous support of Ceres Solutions Cooperative, provided the baskets and gift cards for those in need across Indiana. Ceres Solutions is a cooperative that invests each year in reducing food insecurity in the Indiana and Michigan communities where the company does business. The gift cards will fund the meal’s protein, such as turkey, chicken, or ham for the families. Representatives from Ceres Solutions Cooperative attended the meal packing event in a show of support for the students.

“It is so rewarding to see these student leaders come together to serve our local communities,” said Laurel Mann, a Ceres staff member. “On behalf of the employees and farmer-owners of our company, we are extremely proud to support FFA.”

“It was such a rewarding opportunity to help community members all across Indiana,” said Warsaw FFA Chapter Member Lillian Haywood. “It is truly special to give back to those who need us.”

Warsaw FFA chapter members delivered the meals to Combined Community Services once they returned home from the F.I.R.E. Conference.

The F.I.R.E. Conference focused on learning about life after high school, creating GREAT Goals, how to develop mentor relationships with younger members, and taking students’ leadership skills to the next level. The title sponsors for the F.I.R.E. Conference are Ivy Tech Community College and Wabash Valley Power Alliance.