Empowering Tomorrow's Farmers: FFA SAE Grant Project Updates

In 2024, we continued our partnership with the National FFA Organization to empower and support young, aspiring farmers through Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) Grants. At the beginning of the year, we proudly funded $1,000 grants to 12 FFA students across the Midwest because of their passion for farming and agriculture.

These grants help students grow their SAE projects and gain firsthand experiences in running their very own agricultural business – an essential step to finding long term success in today’s farming industry. This year, projects focused on creating new opportunities for fresh produce sales and everyday items, including syrup, hot sauce and fresh berries.

As we continue to share stories close to our hearts at Bob Evans, especially those in our Where Good Grows program, we want to highlight a few of the talented recipients and their contributions to the farming community:

Helen Butcher, Palmyra, Illinois

Helen’s goal was to grow and harvest sorghum, a grain used to make syrup. She planned to process the juices from the stalks to make syrup she might sell at her county’s fall festival. Through her SAE project, Helen improved her time-management skills and ability to work efficiently, which she learned are essential to running a business.Helen planted the sorghum and harvested the grain in August and September. Currently, she is preparing for next year's harvest and making the improvements she learned through her SAE project.

Kale Barhorst, Jackson Center, Ohio

Throughout his SAE project, Kale learned new skills from making and selling syrup. Kale created a successful business because of his hard work. After posting his syrup online, it sold out within days, leading to further plans to continue his business with the goal of expansion on the horizon.

Kale overcame the challenge of not having enough lumber, but his SAE project taught him that there are positives and negatives to every business. He navigated through these difficulties to create a successful syrup business, and he is already planning to continue it next year.

Tyler Worthey, Neoga, Illinois

Thanks to the support from the Bob Evans SAE grant, Tyler grew his hot sauce business through his website and Shopify account. His goal was to continue to grow his business in sales and new products such as seasonings, snacks and spicy baked goods. During his SAE project, Tyler designed new professional labels and created smaller versions of existing products.Tyler learned that persistence is key when running a business. He plans to attend college with a focus on kinesiology and entrepreneurship to expand both his personal life and business. He also plans to get a master’s in business administration.

Wesley Endres, Belding, Michigan

The Bob Evans SAE grant helped Wesley purchase supplies for his tree sap business. Throughout his SAE project, he enjoyed being outside, working with his hands and bringing his family together. His passion for his business showed through his hard work, which led to a profit this year.Wesley pushed through some obstacles that could have halted his project, such as colder temperatures, but he was able to pave a way to creating a tasty product everyone loved. Currently, he plans to continue to improve his business and has already begun cutting wood for the upcoming season.

Alexandra Kinney, Lewistown, Ohio

Alexandra’s SAE project focused on her business, A2 Berry Farm. She had berries planted across four patches: 700 black raspberries, 30 red raspberries and 50 strawberries. She had big plans to not only harvest these berries but also make sure there were no weeds through maintenance, install irrigation in a newly planted patch and prune canes. The hard work was worth it. Alexandra has been able to sell six quarts more than she originally anticipated.

Alexandra faced some challenges, especially when an F3 tornado ripped through her farm. However, she was able to overcome this challenge with the help of volunteers to clean up the debris and has since grown to new heights. Through this process, Alexandra has learned that when it comes to running a business, you need a plan and a backup plan to try to minimize risk.

We at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen are proud of our longstanding partnership with the National FFA Organization to support the next generation of farmers. If you want to learn more about Bob Evans’s partnership with the National FFA Organization, look here.

Share how you’re growing good this fall by tagging @bobevans on Facebook or @bobevansfarms on Instagram