Community Partnership Spotlight: Crothersville FFA

Community partnerships play a pivotal role in the success and sustainability of youth development organizations like the local Crothersville FFA chapter. Through collaborative efforts with local companies such as Premier, these organizations can amplify their impact and empower young people to reach their full potential. In this blog post, we’ll share contributions of Premier Companies to Crothersville FFA, shedding light on their multifaceted support and the positive outcomes it brings to local communities.

Premier: Can you provide an overview of Crothersville FFA and its mission, as well as the key initiatives or programs that the organization is currently involved in?

Linda Myers: The Crothersville FFA was organized in February of 1956 and students were allowed to enroll in vocational agricultural classes and join the FFA. Additionally, the Crothersville FFA was the home chapter of the 1974 National FFA President.

Over the last 35 years, the mission of the Crothersville FFA has been to promote leadership among students and provide community service activities in the Crothersville area. Crothersville FFA was recognized by the Indiana FFA Association as being 1st place in both Community Service and Safety Initiative. It is a very prestigious honor to be named 1st place in one category not to mention both. Members work a variety of events to ensure that they maintain the high ranking status within the community and state.

Premier: How has Premier Companies been actively involved with Crothersville FFA as a nonprofit partner? Can you share specific examples of the support they have provided?

Linda Myers: 35 years ago, the members of the Crothersville FFA saw a need within the community to provide extra food items to those in need during Christmas. Members collected food items and delivered 5 bags of groceries to twelve families in the community.

In 2023, Crothersville FFA collected and spent over $15,000 in non-perishable food items that were delivered to 108 families in the Crothersville Community. This would absolutely not be possible without the support of Premier Companies! Over the years, Premier Companies along with Land O’ Lakes cooperative together were instrumental in giving donations.

Premier: In what ways has Premier Companies contributed to the growth and development of Crothersville FFA’s projects and activities? Are there any notable collaborations or sponsorships that have had a significant impact?

Linda Myers: The members of the Crothersville FFA pride themselves and have been recognized by Crothersville FFA for their safety activities and safety educational sessions. Working closely with the Crothersville/Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department, FFA members organized an evening for anhydrous training.

Members consulted with Jerry Boger who is the Director of Environmental Safety through Premier Companies. Jerry volunteered the local Premier Companies facility for the training and he taught local firefighters, farmers, and FFA members about how to properly handle anhydrous and all the safety precautions that go along with it. Jerry also secured a cutaway anhydrous tank for all to see inside. The training was very well received and appreciated by all who attended. We absolutely could not do this without Jerry’s wealth of knowledge and Premier Companies lending us their facilities.

Premier: How has the partnership with Premier Companies positively affected the community engagement and outreach efforts of Crothersville FFA? Are there any specific community events or programs that showcase this impact?

Linda Myers: Just being a resource in the community is a benefit to our chapter and our members. Knowing that we have that resource and capabilities at our fingertips is nice to know. The support that we receive from Premier Companies for our Safety and Community Service activities is paramount to our success. We appreciate the collaboration between the two organizations.

Premier: Looking towards the future, how does Crothersville FFA envision continuing and expanding its collaboration with Premier Companies? Are there upcoming projects or initiatives that the two organizations are planning to work on together?

Linda Myers: We certainly would appreciate the idea to host other safety training events at our local Premier facility. We believe that safety is a topic that is sometimes overlooked but we see it as a priority. With the assistance of trained professionals that we can call on, we feel that we can provide a meaningful training experience for our members, local farmers, and volunteer firefighters.

Sustaining Impact Through Collaboration

As we reflect on the partnership between Crothersville FFA and Premier Companies, it becomes evident that their collective efforts have not only enriched the lives of countless individuals but also fortified the bonds within the local community. This collaborative spirit embodies the essence of community engagement and underscores the transformative power of working together towards a shared vision of empowerment and service.