INDIANAPOLIS (September 21, 2023/National FFA Organization) – The UA Cossatot Collegiate FFA chapter in De Queen, Arkansas has been awarded a Fall Semester-Long Living to Serve Grant in the amount of $1200. The nationwide program provides grant money to local FFA chapters to support semester-long service-learning projects that address needs related to community safety; environmental responsibility; hunger, health and nutrition; and community engagement during the fall semester.

UA Cossatot Collegiate FFA plans to use grant funds for education and outreach about alternative therapies, such as laser and red light therapy, for horses, livestock, and pets. Agriculture faculty, Kelli Harris, and students will provide no-cost educational demonstrations to the public about these therapies and how they can benefit animals. They will also be partnering with Running WJ Ranch in Texarkana, Texas to provide free services for their horses.

Red light and laser therapy is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of conditions in animals, including pain relief, inflammation, wound healing, and skin conditions. It works by stimulating cellular activity and increasing blood flow to the treated area.

The program provided over $75,000 to FFA chapters in 28 states. The 2023 Fall Semester-Long Living to Serve Grants are sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and Cargill. For more information and a complete listing of sponsors, visit FFA.org/livingtoserve.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.