Five Fort Frye FFA seniors from Ohio didn’t just spend their spring break hiking national parks and seeing the sights—they made it a mission-driven journey. At the heart of their trip was a meaningful visit with the Lucerne Valley FFA Chapter in Southern California, an experience that sparked deeper understanding, connection, and action.
As part of a larger agricultural literacy tour, the Fort Frye members visited Lucerne Valley High School to connect with fellow FFA students and exchange stories about their chapters. The visit included a tour of the school’s ag program and a conversation that went beyond shared activities—it became a moment of reflection on the challenges California FFA members have faced in recent years, particularly the devastating impact of wildfires on rural communities, agricultural operations, and even students’ own families.
“We got to talk about what FFA looks like in different parts of the country,” one student shared. “It was really eye-opening. Even though we live in totally different places, we’re part of the same organization, and we care about the same things.”
That care quickly turned into action. Back home in Ohio, Fort Frye FFA has a tradition of hosting a schoolwide cornhole tournament during FFA Week, raising funds for charitable causes. This year, moved by their experience in California—and the wildfire stories shared not only by Lucerne Valley students but also by a local horse ranch guide who had lost her home—the students chose to dedicate the tournament proceeds to support California FFA members.
“The stories hit close to home in a way we didn’t expect,” said the chapter advisor. “The students took the lead in wanting to give back. They brought the idea to our chapter meeting after we returned, and the support was unanimous.”
Through conversations with peers and firsthand encounters with the lasting effects of wildfires on rural communities, the Fort Frye FFA members saw the real-world impact agriculture students can have when they connect across state lines. Their donation is more than a charitable gesture—it’s a symbol of the community cultivated by the FFA organization.
