Despite donations and auctions, fundraising can be one thing that can not only help out the members but help the chapter. Travelling through the state, I have seen many different forms, all of which have been quite successful for the chapters who participate.
Lets discuss a few shall we?
1. Fruit Sales. I know that everyone and their dog have started to do fruit sales, but when I was in FFA, our chapter was one of the only ones who did sell. It was a hit, and still is. Although it is a huge headache for the advisors, it really does help students learn how to make personal contact and sales and be accountable for collecting money. Note for the ag teachers: make it a competition. If you tell that the top 3 students will get a certain percentage of the chapters total sales, more for the first place, a smaller amount for the second place, and a little smaller amount for the third. If it is a good sale year, open up it up to the top 5 sellers. Keep the top dollar amount posted on a whiteboard and see the sales climb. The first year that my chapter made it into a competition, I was absolutely set on being the number one seller. I was on the phone every empty minute trying to make sales. Although the second place winner was my best friend, it wasn't her that I was worried about beating and she wasn't worried about me. It was the fact that the third person was a first year member who was taking "clients" who had previously bought from Sammy or myself in the previous years. Now we couldn't have that. For every sale she made, Sammy and I made two. We watched the board all day long watching the tally points, and by the end of the day, we all had exhausted every last client we could possibly get. Fruit sales continues to be a huge competition in my home chapter and provides people in the community with some pretty dang good agricultural products.
2. Pointsettias. I hadn't heard of these being sold until I was in college and the Malad chapter started selling them. If you didn't know, during my State Officer year, Malad pretty much adopted me. At one point in time they fought over me with my home chapter. So when I saw a Facebook post from several members, I decided to support and buy some for my mom and grandmas. Those were the best things I could have bought them. And believe it out now, my one grandma still has hers! I was able to purchase different colors and each person had their own special plant from me. And you better believe that I bought more and will be giving them again this year.
3. Most times it is believed that when fundraising you have to come up with an idea that is complex. So not true people. Shirts, sweatshirts, and even monogrammed jackets are a simple and relatively cheap way to not only show chapter "spirit" but can actually bring some good revenue for the chapter. The key is to have a competition for t-shirt designs and have the students vote on them and to shop around for print shops. Local places are good, especially if you get sponsors for the back of your shirts, but companies like Custom Ink have lower and lower prices the more shirts you order. You just have to find the place that fits your needs, meets your expectations, and fits your budget. I don't know about you and your moms, but Momma C and I go CRAZY over FFA shirts. I am not kidding when I say that they make up about half of my wardrobe. I even go as far as wearing the same long sleeved t-shirt and sweatshirt as the same time. But I am a crazy about FFAshirts, in all styles and colors. Most chapters already have shirts that students buy, but if you make them available to parents and family members , that is where it becomes it's own glorified fundraiser.
Now I am sure that many other chapters have great fundraisers out there like selling welding art, dances, food booths at fairs, etc, but those are definitely my top three. This way the students that want to be involved can be and the chapter makes the money that it needs in order to keep the dream going. Money has a lot to do with things, but it doesn't always have to be a problem.
So I have a big announcement. Both during my State Officer year and as I continue to be involved with FFA, I am amazed by the members. So I have decided that from now on, once a month, I will highlight an FFA member. I want others to see the good works that their fellow associates are doing and how broad of an organization FFA can be. That being said, the next blog post that I get up will not be about me rambling on about something, rather a somebody. Stay tuned to see who this lucky person is and hear about their FFA experience.
Peace, Love, and FFA
McKenzie
