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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Continuing their rounds with donations, the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative subsidiary Central Access presented Isabella High School’s FFA program with their check at the school’s football game on Aug. 30. The funds will go directly towards benefitting the program’s students who will be traveling to the National FFA Convention & Expo.

The 97th annual event in Indianapolis, Indiana from Oct. 23-26 will have students from four high schools in Chilton County represented at the convention. The Chamber and Central Access is donating $2,500 to each FFA program to help with the growing costs to attend the convention. The donations began at Thorsby High School on Aug. 29, and continued on Aug. 30 with presentations to FFA programs at Isabella and Maplesville High Schools. Executive Director of the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Rachel Martin presented Isabella FFA President Rylee Hathcox with the funds.

The Isabella FFA program was originally not going to be able to attend the national convention due to the costs to get their students there. However, the Chamber and Central Access’ donation inspired the students to fundraise further, and they will all be attending in Indianapolis.

“The donation really urged us on to get the drive and do this quick fundraiser to get the money to go this year. I am so excited to be going. It will be my second time, and it is my senior year. I have been in FFA for six years, and I have loved every bit of it and it means so much to me,” Hathcox said. “It is going to be amazing because I get to go be with awesome people in this amazing organization and share my love for FFA with them, and also learn more while I am there.”

Isabella will have 10 students representing their school at the national convention — Brady Franklin, Joshua Green, Hathcox, Madi Littleton, Mason Littleton, Taegan Littleton, Drew Smith, Stella Traywick, Juliette Williams and Laliyahna Wilson.