Our 2025 ACH Seeds Homegrown Giving winner in the Great Lakes region is the Ithaca FFA. The oldest FFA chapter in Michigan, this program offers students the unique opportunity to learn how to manage crops at its 48-acre land lab. ACH Seeds’ $10,000 donation will help them install tile drainage in the land lab to improve crop success, hands-on learning, and long-term sustainability for the program.
The Ithaca FFA chapter has been working in the land-lab since 1965, but recent yields and field conditions have revealed the consequences of poor drainage. With a modern drainage system in place, students will be able to plant earlier, grow healthier crops and generate more revenue from harvests. That income is then reinvested into equipment, student-led projects and FFA learning activities, creating a cycle that strengthens both the FFA program and the surrounding ag community.
ACH Seeds independent sales agent Peter Maxwell (far right) presents the donation check to FFA advisor Leslie Siefka (center left) and other members of the chapter.
The land lab is a true student-managed crop project: students take soil samples, plan the crop, monitor progress throughout the growing season and help harvest with support from other local ag companies and volunteers.
The donation will allow the chapter to install tile drainage across its 48-acre land lab – a transformative upgrade that will improve crop success, hands-on learning and long-term sustainability for the program.
With a modern drainage system in place, students will be able to plant earlier, grow healthier crops and generate more revenue from harvests.
Homegrown Giving
Learn More About Our 2025 Winner
In the Great Lakes region, ACH Seeds’ 2025 Homegrown Giving winner is the Ithaca FFA.
Hear from the Winner
This investment gives our students an incredible opportunity to manage a real crop from the ground up. It’s going to take our program to the next level, and we’re extremely grateful to ACH Seeds for supporting us.
Leslie SiefkaIthaca Agriscience Teacher and FFA Advisor
