‘Support Agriculture’

Badger FFA yard signs benefit farmers, community

As a part of Badger High School FFA’s mission of living to serve, 100 “Support Agriculture” signs were sold to support agriculture and farmers that have been struggling while also supporting our local families with food insecurities.

The proceeds from each sign, as well as additional donations, were used to purchase milk and yogurt to add to the school lunches that are being distributed at Badger High School, Central-Denison Elementary School, Star Center School, and Brookwood School. Additional donations will be made to the local food pantry to help those in need at this time.

Badger FFA President, Laura Speckman, said it is more important than ever to support farmers.

“Farmers are suffering in many ways right now from being unable to get their meat processed to cutting their milk production. Along with these difficulties, farmers have also been dealing with painfully low prices. It is crucial for communities to help farmers during this challenging time so they can continue to feed America,” she said.

On the other side of the equation, there are many unemployed who need to provide for their families.

“People need food and farmers need to sell their products to continue producing food,” Speckman explained. “By the Badger FFA purchasing dairy products to feed students, we are helping everyone in the community, not just some. Right now dairy farmers, in particular, are struggling to pay their employees and bills because of the low milk prices. Badger FFA wants to help encourage others to buy dairy and save the hardworking farmers.”

To date, Badger FFA has donated more than $2,000 in dairy products and another 160 pounds of produce raised and harvested during the COVID-19 time off of school with the help of the Badger FFA Alumni adult support organization. Any additional funds raised through selling the “Support Agriculture” signs will continue to support these programs.

“It is nice to see people step up and help out their community!” Speckman said.

She hopes this campaign will encourage others to buy more dairy products not just right now, but every day, to help the agriculture community.

“I personally live on my family’s dairy farm and it has been an anxious time for us because of the uncertainty of what the future holds,” she said. “This campaign directly helps my family and I hope the support will spread through Walworth County and all of Wisconsin.”

For more information or to order a “Support Agriculture” sign, visit www.badgerffa.org and scroll down on the homepage.