(TRAFALGAR, IN) - Big money is heading to central Indiana to strengthen youth leadership programs statewide.
The Indiana FFA Foundation has been awarded a $750,000 grant from Lilly Endowment, part of the Endowment's Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps. The funding will support major upgrades at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center in Trafalgar, a campus that has trained young leaders since 1968.
The grant will be used to modernize the center's electrical system, remodel restrooms to improve accessibility, replace doors and hardware to enhance security, and improve drainage around the facility. Leaders say the work will help keep the campus safe, welcoming, and functional for years to come.
The Leadership Center hosts leadership conferences, camps, retreats, and career development events for FFA members from across the state. Each year, thousands of students take part in programs designed to build character, confidence, and leadership skills.
The project follows an earlier planning phase that assessed long-term campus needs, including accessibility, infrastructure, and erosion concerns -- laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.
The Indiana FFA Leadership Center sits on a 170-acre campus featuring trails, a lake, a ropes challenge course, and large gathering spaces. The Indiana FFA Foundation says the investment helps ensure the center remains a premier training ground for the state's next generation of agricultural and community leaders.
Indiana FFA serves more than 14,000 students in 233 chapters statewide.
More information is available through the Indiana FFA Foundation.