<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0CL4LQ_0wPWsPsd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0CL4LQ_0wPWsPsd00" width="1500" height="1125" ><figcaption>Members of the Melrose FFA Chapter gather together after painting pumpkins Oct. 7 at the Melrose Area Public School in Melrose, Minnesota. There are 45 members in the Melrose FFA Chapter.</figcaption></figure>45 membersMelrose, MinnesotaStearns CountyTell us about your chapter. The Melrose FFA Chapter has an active and involved membership. Our members strive to be involved not only at the local level, but at the regional and state level as well. We currently have three members serving as Region III officers, have several teams practicing for their Career and Leadership Development Events in a few months, and we are conducting our annual Toys for Tots drive in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.How does your chapter volunteer in the community throughout the year? Each year, we tend to assess the needs of our community and help wherever the students see fit. This year, our membership helped with the clean-up of our local golf course after the tornado that swept through towards the end of the summer. We also adopt a family or two through a school program for the holiday season and started a new project where we send little finals baskets to our alumni who are still in college. We host a safety day program for fourth graders in our elementary and are always open to helping with anything that is brought to the chapter.What fundraisers does your chapter do throughout the year? Which is the most successful? Our main fundraiser is our fruit sale in the fall. We have had great success with it and it helps to fund student jackets, study and practice supplies for student contests and more.What are the biggest events of the year? Some of our most popular events each year are our holiday party and our end-of-the-year cookout. They are great times for our members to get together and celebrate with each other. The most obvious is our member attendance and representation at the Minnesota state convention. It is so fun to watch students work hard to achieve their goals and celebrate their successes.What is unique about your chapter? We operate a 35-acre crop plot with the help of Pflipsen Ag Services/Central Grain.When was your chapter founded and how has it evolved? The Melrose FFA Chapter was chartered in 1947. Throughout the years we have grown in many ways. To my knowledge, our membership is currently one of the highest we have had in recent years and one of the most active. In the past several years, we have had numerous Minnesota State Degree recipients and three American Degree recipients. We recently chartered an alumni and supporters chapter this year, which is just another way our chapter has grown.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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FFA Inside the Emblem: Melrose

Tell us about your chapter. The Melrose FFA Chapter has an active and involved membership. Our members strive to be involved not only at the local level, but at the regional and state level as well. We currently have three members serving as Region III officers, have several teams practicing for their Career and Leadership Development Events in a few months, and we are conducting our annual Toys for Tots drive in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.