Near Raymond, Nebraska, members of the Raymond Central FFA Chapter are gaining hands-on agricultural experience through a community-supported test plot that also helps raise funds for their program.
The project is led by the chapter’s alumni and supporters group, with help from local farmers, cooperatives, and seed companies who donate time, products, and equipment. Together, they plant and manage the plot while creating learning opportunities for students.
Aaron Studebaker, who helps lead the alumni supporters group, said the idea began as the group searched for a new way to fundraise.
“We were looking for new fundraisers, and I don’t really know how to fundraise very well—but I know how to farm,” Studebaker said. “So that’s how this got started.”
This year the test plot is focused on soybeans, where participants are testing different planting populations. Community members can also support the chapter by purchasing self-serve sweet corn from a nearby field.
Beyond fundraising, the plot provides valuable learning experiences for FFA members who can see real farming practices up close.
“It’s really cool because we’re learning about these processes in class,” said Marissa Tvrdy, president of the Raymond Central FFA Chapter. “But having something just down the road where we can see it happen and be hands-on involved helps us see the full picture.”
For students, alumni, and local producers alike, the test plot has become more than just a field—it’s a way to strengthen relationships, support agricultural education, and connect the next generation with the industry that surrounds their community.
Fridays in the Field is presented by FNBO – The Great Big, Small Bank.