FFA hosting new fundraiser next month

WASHINGTON — FFA members will host a Taco Tuesday night at Dallmeyer Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds early in April, a first for the local chapter as it seeks new ways to raise money.

Washington FFA Advisor Barry Clough said the program needed extra cash to help finance its activities throughout the year.

“A lot of the money will go for state convention, national convention expenses,” he said. “We also do harvest meals in the fall, and that takes a little bit of money. With prices going up, it seems like the hotel rooms get more expensive every year.”

Washington FFA President Tess Berdo said the evening also aimed at sparking connections between FFA members and non-farming members of the community. She said the event would help people understand what a wide range of activities the chapter offered, as students get their faces in front of new people.

“It was an approach … so that people understand (we’re) a little bit more than the farm kids of Washington,” she said. “And also just know what it is. I don’t know how many people in the community truly know what FFA is, or does, or any of that.”

Chapter Secretary Taylor Moore said the event would accomplish that goal by changing things up.

As familiar as a “Taco Tuesday” fundraiser may seem in concept, it’s a far cry from other fundraisers held by the chapter.

“We already have pancake breakfasts and those kinds of things,” she said. “We kind of wanted something different, that would get people’s eye.”

FFA members have planned the night themselves, from ordering the food to arranging advertisements. Students said the logistical effort had proven surprisingly challenging.

“I feel like the biggest thing is figuring out how many people we’re going to get,” Berdo said. “Just the unknown of having to guess … we’re planning for 500.”

Taco Tuesday night on April 2 runs from 5-7:30 p.m. at Dallmeyer Hall, and is open to all community members, whether they’ve worked with FFA in the past or not. Freewill donations of $5 or more are requested.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com