Jacksonville FFA Chapters Host Drive-Through Dinner to Feed Local Farmers

Mark Dyer and Megan Hadden had a straightforward premise: farmers working long hours during planting season shouldn't have to stop and cook. The Jacksonville High School and Jacksonville Middle School FFA advisors turned that idea into "Meals for the Fields," a drive-through chicken-dinner fundraiser held at Jacksonville High School timed to coincide with one of the most demanding stretches of the Morgan County agricultural calendar.

The drive-through format was built entirely around the farmer's schedule. Organizers encouraged pre-orders and staggered pickup times so growers could pull in, collect a hot meal, and return to their equipment without losing meaningful field time. Students and parent volunteers managed preparation, packaging, and traffic flow, giving FFA members firsthand experience in food service logistics and event coordination alongside their agricultural coursework.

Dyer and Hadden spread word of the event through WLDS and local social channels, and asked area growers to pass the announcement through farm networks so the chapters could accurately project meal counts and staff accordingly.

Proceeds from the fundraiser support FFA chapter activities, leadership trips, career-technical education materials, and scholarships for Jacksonville students. By involving both the high school and middle school chapters, the event extended the hands-on learning experience across a wider range of student ages and skill levels.

"Meals for the Fields" represents the kind of direct exchange that sustains rural school programs: students earn practical workforce skills through a real-stakes community event while farmers receive a concrete service at the moment they need it most. In Morgan County, where agriculture anchors both the local economy and civic identity, that exchange runs in both directions.