RELEASE DATE CONTACT: Kent Boggs s5

RELEASE DATE CONTACT: Kent Boggs May 3, 2017 405-743-5498

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Gabrielle Pavli, president of the Morrison FFA Chapter, was recognized for the chapter’s contribution toward the 2017 Oklahoma FFA Hunger Challenge at the 91st Oklahoma FFA

Convention at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Amanda Rosholt of the Oklahoma

Farming and Ranching Foundation congratulates Pavli.

FFA members from 226 chapters statewide donated livestock and money to collectively provide 1,015,764 protein sticks for the Oklahoma Food Bank’s Backpack Program, which is a nearly 25 percent increase from 2016.

Last year, this program provided food to more than 29,000 elementary school children who have inconsistent access to food on weekends and school holidays. The Oklahoma Food

Bank’s Backpack Program is a collaborative effort among local farmers, manufacturers and processors to provide the protein sticks through the Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs programs.

FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma

Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 27,000 members and

357 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-largest state FFA association. The

FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.