MSA West FFA receives donation

This year, the Iberville MSA West FFA chapter was honored to receive a donation of $5,000 from the Olin Corporation and, according to MSA West FFA representative Megan Purpera, the donation will provide new opportunities for the students inside and outside of the classroom.

Two-thousand dollars of the donations has already been allocated for scholarships for students who are pursuing careers in agriculture, and the remaining portion will support educational resources and student activities throughout the year for the MSA West FFA chapter, Purpera said.

The Olin Corporation is an American manufacturer of ammunition, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide. Olin has two local sites, Olin East in St. Gabriel and Olin West in Plaquemine.

Olin West has been on the DOW site for almost two years, and they have already become active members in the local community. This corporation has shown their backing on the westside through participation and support in United Way, March of Dimes, Iberville Chamber of Commerce, and the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.

Olin is offering Iberville MSA West FFA the opportunity for students interested in the industry to come into the plant and tour the facilities. The experience gained from this trip will enable students to make informed decisions about which career fields to study and to decide on paths for their future. 

“This donation from Olin provides our FFA chapter with the opportunity to meet the needs of every child, and allows them to really gain the life experiences that FFA provides,” Purpera said.  “The financial limitations that we have experienced in the past years will be less of a burden on the chapter.  We can really focus on the education and experiences of the members.”

About FFA

FFA is a national organization that is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

MSA West FFA believes that anything can be learned with hard work, perseverance, and dedication. In addition to presenting educational lessons that highlight various fields of agriculture, the program works to ensure that students practice life and career skills such as time management, respect, work ethic, passion, preparation, and perseverance.

This program helps students reach their full potential. Throughout the year, local students compete in various competitions and community events. The students travel throughout Louisiana as well as other parts of the country for competitions that allow students to gain hands-on experience in various fields.