ARCOP Grants

The Agricultural and Rural Community Outreach Program (ARCOP) is a grant program available to FFA chapters to fund community development projects in the areas of educational agricultural programs, agriculture awareness and promotion and agriculture and food economic development. These projects are to address the needs of farmers and rural individuals, families and communities, agricultural education and the economic development of rural areas and should be in collaboration with a substantial agency, a governmental entity, or other long-standing organization.

Annually Ohio FFA chapters submit project proposals to the Ohio FFA Foundation, and a committee selects projects to receive grant funding. The ARCOP program is a partnership between the Ohio FFA Foundation and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Since the program’s beginning, nearly 40 chapters have been awarded ARCOP grants to impact their communities, and several projects have proved sustainable since their original funding.

This year funding priority will go to projects focused on teaching children the origin of the food they eat and helps promote fresh, healthy foods in communities. Projects should align with these principles, with an emphasis on decreasing food insecurity, getting fresh foods to communities or helping farm to school efforts. For more project ideas and complete details, click on the Guidelines below.

For chapters interested in applying for an ARCOP grant, applications are due June 21.

2022 ARCOP Guidelines
2022 ARCOP Application

“My students have practiced skills ranging from food preservation to event planning to gardening and construction through our funded projects. We are very grateful to the Ohio Department of Agriculture for creating and supporting this program!”  ~Jennifer Johnston, Zane Trace High School