Marshall Democrat-News: Agriculture: Slater FFA cuts trip short, donates extra to tornado victims (06/13/11)

In the picture above is Slater Chapter FFA President Kaylee McEachern, along withchapter FFA vice-presidents Kurt Taylor and Casey Short, presenting a check to State Bank of Slater Vice-President Teresa Thomason to be given to the Deal family.

[Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Early last fall the Slater FFA chapter got the news that it would receive a $1,600 donation from Syngenta Global. The chapter was very thankful for the donation and developed the plan to use the money by providing a trip to its top 25 members in activity points to reward them for their involvement throughout the 2010-11 school year.

The chapter had planned a two day trip to Omaha, NE to watch a minor league baseball game and visit the world renowned Omaha Zoo. The trip was approved by the school board and actions were underway to travel on June 1st and 2nd for the trip.

However, when tornados hit Missouri on Sunday May 22nd, ideas changed.

The Slater FFA members knew they wanted to help both victims in their home area and the town of Joplin. A cleanup day was set up on Wednesday May 25th with the Deal family who was affected here in Slater, but storms keep the FFA members from assisting that day. So on Tuesday May 31, the Slater FFA Chapter made a decision to change their Top 25 Trip and make financial donations to help the tornado victims.

The chapter decided to change it's two day trip to Omaha, to a one day trip in Missouri, saving nearly $500 in hotel and travel costs to be donated to the tornado victims.

The Deal family of Slater and the Joplin Agricultural Department will both be receiving cash donations to help them reestablish their homes and school.

--Slater FFA Chapter