Canton FFA uses National FFA Living to Serve Grant to honor the late Dr. Jami Tipton and others

The Canton FFA Chapter was awarded a National FFA Living to Serve Grant to beautify an area near the elementary entrance of the school. Canton FFA members and the greenhouse class worked to add a garden pathway to the already existing memorial garden. The memorial garden was installed in the Fall of 2022 to honor Diane Jorgenson, Karen Chancellor, and Carla Helmke. The original garden consisted of Raised Beds and flowering trees purchased with a Living to Serve Grant and benches donated by the faculty and staff of the Canton R-V school district. This year, greenhouse students worked to remove soil, place landscaping fabric and edging, spread mulch, and spread rock donated by the LaGrange Rock Quarry. Five hundred of the rocks were selected by Canton Agriculture Science II students and FFA members to help remember and honor high school English teacher Dr. Jami Tipton. The rocks were painted with Case IH red in memory of Carla Helmke.  On April 16th, the Canton High School and Elementary students met on the front lawn of the school to paint kindness rocks. Each student was given a rock to decorate to reflect something unique and important about themselves. Each rock was then placed in the garden as a reminder of the important role students have at a school and the legacy they leave here. The rocks are on display in the garden, and the community is invited to come and view the wonderful creation of our students.