The Edwards County FFA Chapter has been recognized as the Section 23 winner in the 2024–2025 Harvest for All campaign, a statewide initiative organized by the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) in partnership with FFA chapters to fight food insecurity and support local communities.
The chapter earned the honor by raising an impressive 4,375 pounds of food and contributing 68 volunteer hours to support families in need. Their efforts placed them among 25 statewide section winners, setting them apart from other schools in their region.
As part of their campaign, Edwards County FFA supported several local initiatives, including the Summer Lunch Program, The Hope Center, The Backpack Truck, and the Tri-State Food Bank Box Distribution.
“Harvest for All is the embodiment of the FFA motto’s final line, ‘Living to Serve,’” said Taylor Hartke, IFB’s youth and collegiate program coordinator. “It’s inspiring to see students rise to the challenge of addressing real needs in their communities.”
The Harvest for All program empowers FFA and Collegiate Farm Bureau members to organize food drives, volunteer projects, and fundraising efforts in support of those facing hunger across Illinois. This year, Illinois participants raised more than 206,000 pounds of food, volunteered 7,483 hours, and donated nearly $55,000 statewide.
The top five overall chapters in Illinois were:
Nashville
Peotone
Cissna Park
Galva
Williamsville
Edwards County FFA and other section winners will be formally honored during the Illinois FFA State Convention in June.
The Harvest for All initiative is part of a broader national campaign led by the American Farm Bureau Federation, supported in Illinois by the IFB Young Leader Program and Collegiate Farm Bureau. In 2024 alone, Illinois participants led the nation with 312,568 pounds of food donated, $159,265 raised, and 20,992 volunteer hours contributed.
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