Louisiana FFA Chapter Earns National Premier Award for Nutrition Project
Zachary FFA members received the 2026 Premier Chapter title in Indianapolis after teaching pre-K students about healthy eating through a farm-to-school initiative.
By Luana Sato ·
The Zachary FFA Chapter in Louisiana received the 2026 Premier Chapter: Building Communities award during the fifth general session of the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The recognition was one of the top honors available to the organization's student chapters.
Members of the chapter developed an activity called Farm-to-School to address the award criteria. They constructed interactive presentation stations designed to teach local pre-K students about consuming fruits and vegetables. The students created cookbooks containing the recipes demonstrated in the presentations so the children could take the information home.
The project served a dual purpose for the participants. FFA members refined their leadership, communication, and teaching abilities during the process. Meanwhile, the pre-K students received early education on nutrition fundamentals. This approach aligned with the national standards for improving chapter operations and providing educational experiences to the entire membership.
The National FFA organization evaluates chapters based on their implementation of mission strategies. The award program identifies groups that emphasize growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Only chapters that achieved three-star ratings during the judging phase were eligible to compete for the premier chapter awards.
Ten FFA chapters from across the country competed for the specific honor given to the Zachary group. The national body recognizes top chapters that execute innovative activities within three distinct divisions. The Zachary chapter’s focus on community engagement through nutrition education distinguished them among the finalists.
The convention in Indianapolis served as the venue for the final selection of these awards. The chapter’s work exemplified the quality standards set by the national FFA. The award acknowledges the specific efforts made to integrate agricultural education with local community needs.
