A flower bed in the community was transformed by Knoxville FFA members.
The Knoxville FFA Chapter in Illinois is implementing the FFA motto, “Living to Serve,” in their community. Members work tirelessly throughout the year to better their community. Under the guidance of their dedicated advisor, Mallory Tolley, the chapter has developed a strong culture of giving back, making a lasting impact on both its members and the local community.
Knoxville FFA delivers flower planters to Main Street in Knoxville.
Knoxville FFA members beautify the community year-round by growing vegetables for veterans, maintaining flowerbeds and hosting petting zoos. However, one of the members’ favorites is rice packing. For this service project, the chapter works alongside other clubs in their area. This year they were able to pack 19,116 meals for those in need. When asked about why she loves this project, Emily Conlee said, “It gives me and my fellow members the opportunity to do our part in helping feed the hungry.”
An ongoing project that Tolley loves is their Seeds of Honor project. When asked about this project, Tolley said, “We started this several years ago and have continued it because we enjoy giving to those that so selflessly gave to us and our country.”
For this project, the chapter grows different vegetables and then donates them to local legions for veterans to take and appreciate. This project is in conjunction with Illinois Veterans Gardening Day. Tolley said, “Debra Whitaker started this initiative and with the help of Rep. Dan Swanson passed it through legislation in Illinois to make it an official day to celebrate.”
Tolley hopes that soon it will also be in conjunction with National Veterans Gardening Day.
Knoxville FFA members transplanting vegetables for Seeds of Honor.
Student involvement is key to the success of these service projects. Every member of the Knoxville FFA Chapter helps out in some way. Over 100 students from Tolley’s classes take part in beautifying the community during school days, traveling throughout town to lend a hand. The horticulture class takes the lead on planting and caring for flower planters and growing vegetables.
According to Tolley, “Members are motivated because they understand our chapter is about giving back. They thrive on doing good things for others, and we’ve worked hard to instill that value in all our FFA members.”
When students see the positive impact of their efforts, it inspires them to do even more. Beyond motivation, these projects teach valuable skills like responsibility, teamwork, time management, and the importance of community service. Students find a sense of purpose in their work, developing new skills and building lasting relationships within the community. Many members also have the unique opportunity to share their experiences on a local radio station, proudly discussing the work they’ve done and the lessons they’ve learned.
Knoxville FFA members doing a radio interview about their project.
“Giving back to the community is a big part of being an FFA member,” said Conlee.
Overall, thanks to these students, the community benefits through beautification and enhanced aesthetic appeal. These projects are not only beneficial for the community but also inspire students to take on more service initiatives. This chapter shows what it truly means to be “living to serve.”
