Mandy Burger is in her fourth year as Ellsworth’s first Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) instructor. She has seen the group grow from 11 to 36 members, with multiple members finishing in the top 10 in national competitions. However, the success of the program is not by chance. Burger sees the potential in students, encourages their ideas and works to make them happen with the help of community support.  

Ellsworth County Farm Bureau, like all county Farm Bureaus across Kansas, believes in supporting community efforts that support the mission of strengthening agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. Working with the local FCCLA chapter was a natural fit in the mission of the organization — and in Ellsworth County, the work enhanced community spirit and agriculture education. 

SERVING THE COMMUNITY 

Every year, Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School (EJSHS) students participate in “Bearcats Give Back Day,” and in 2024, a meal project took form as their way of giving back.  

“We (Burger and her class) wanted to make 60 meals for 60 families in the community who, for whatever reason, needed a little pick–me–up,” Burger says.  

To make the project cost-free, the group reached out to Ellsworth County Farm Bureau and others to sponsor. To their amazement, Burger’s class found sponsors across the community for every piece of the project, even locally sourced honey and beef.  

“They reached out and asked if our board would be willing to help donate funds to help families in need of additional resources,’” explains Katie Lyne, Ellsworth County Farm Bureau’s coordinator. "We've had a request to get beef and local produce in the classrooms, so we found a great partnership with the FCCLA chapter." 

The 60 meals for 60 families project was just the beginning of the partnership to come between Farm Bureau and FCCLA in Ellsworth.  

CONTINUING THE COLLABORATION 

Last year, Ellsworth County Farm Bureau approached Burger about collaborating on a workshop for community members to learn how to make freezer meals.  

“We did a freezer meal workshop last year and for each woman who came, Farm Bureau helped sponsor the costs of the registration fees,” Lyne says. “All they had to pay was for the price of the food.” 

Two FCCLA students with an interest in event management took the lead on the program and found seven volunteer students to help. On Sept. 27, 2025, FCCLA welcomed 17 participants, including community members and teachers, to EJSHS to cook meals together they could take home. Each participant left with six family-sized meals and a recipe book created by the students for $75, thanks to the sponsorship of Farm Bureau. The meals included homemade pizza, crockpot ranch chicken and beef enchilada casserole.  

STUDENTS TAKE LEAD 

To take the partnership one step further, the same FCCLA students approached Burger about starting a cooking camp kids could participate in over the summer and asked Farm Bureau to sponsor again.  

“We’re calling it ‘Farm to Fork.’ They wanted to focus on how wheat becomes bread and how hamburgers are derived,” Burger says. “It’s about showing kids how the products start and eventually come to our plates.” 

Farm Bureau sponsored $50 scholarships for 12 participants to pay half of the $100 registration fee, helping “Farm to Fork: Kids Cooking Camp” come to life. Ranging from first to sixth grade, all 37 participants learned kitchen basics and safety and how to make homemade pico de gallo, salsa, bread and strawberry jam. On the final day, they took home six hamburger patties. The five-day camp in July was packed with agricultural and food education.  

However, Burger and her students' community service did not stop there.  

“Mandy had each participant pick a family who they thought would benefit from a meal, and each student in the class got to take home a meal to the family of their choice,” Lyne shared. 

Each service FCCLA and Farm Bureau provide is even more fulfilling than the last. 

“The FCCLA members were amazing,” Burger says. “They would tell you it’s the tiredest they’ve ever been, but also very rewarding. They’ve gotten thank you letters in the mail from some of the students.” 

This is not the last time Ellsworth FCCLA hopes to partner with Ellsworth County Farm Bureau.  

“I think the students try to plan their activities with the intent of having agriculture lessons in them in some way, so they can include Farm Bureau,” Burger says. 

At the same time, the county Farm Bureau continues to support its local FCCLA.  

“Her (Burger’s) class also caters for our Farm Bureau events, like our annual meeting,” Lyne says. “They’re usually our go-to for meals.”  

This year, four FCCLA members, Burger and her daughter made and served a taco bar for the county’s annual meeting attendees. 

MUTUAL IMPACT 

The partnership between Farm Bureau and FCCLA in Ellsworth has impacted both groups tremendously. Burger received Ellsworth County Farm Bureau’s Friend of Agriculture award, while Lyne received honorary membership to FCCLA. Furthermore, Ellsworth County Farm Bureau was chosen as Kansas FCCLA’s Business of the Year.  

“Ellsworth FCCLA and the students are only as successful as the people who believe in them, and I think that’s what makes our county Farm Bureau so great,” Burger says. “I feel like everybody on that board has so much belief and has supported the students so much. We couldn’t do it without their support.” 

Ellsworth County Farm Bureau and Ellsworth FCCLA know the importance of supporting their community. When it comes to giving back, the options are limitless. By serving those around you or giving your time, treasure or talent, your community only gets stronger Communities are only as strong as the people who support them and each other. 

To learn more about Ellsworth County Farm Bureau, visit its Facebook page.  

To learn more about programs offered by Ellsworth FCCLA, visit its Facebook page.