Members of the Caldwell County FFA Chapter in Princeton, Kentucky used National FFA Week as an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

On February 26, chapter members held their 5th annual “Put a Cap on Cancer” Day.

“The county Relay for Life event in June comes at a busy time for local FFA members,” chapter president Kayla Scott explained, “The chapter still wanted to do something to contribute to the efforts. That’s how the event got its start.”

Caldwell students were permitted to wear hats during school for the annual "Put a Cap on Cancer" dayStudents and teachers at the school donate $1 to the Caldwell County Relay for Life and are permitted to wear a hat at school that day.

When students make their donation they’re given a “Put a Cap on Cancer” sticker to put on their hat.

These stickers must be displayed to help administrators ensure that hat wearing privilege is kept only for students who’ve contributed since wearing hats inside the school building normally violates school dress code policy.

This year the chapter officer team decided to expand the event to include Caldwell County Middle School students.

With the addition of the middle school, students from grades 6-12 are now eligible to participate in the “Put a Cap on Cancer” festivities.

“The middle school administration gladly allowed their students to participate,” chapter advisor Wes York said.

Principal Ringstaff helped Caldwell FFA members "Put a Cap on Cancer"

This year, FFA members were able to take in the most donations ever and collected $300 for Relay for Life.

Though it seems like a lifetime ago, I was one of the chapter members at the first “Put a Cap on Cancer” day.

It is heart warming to see that years later my home chapter is still dedicated the last line of the FFA motto: Living to Serve.

Caldwell County is just one of many FFA chapters who use National FFA Week both as a time to celebrate and a time to give back to their communities.

What community service projects did your FFA chapter do? What FFA Week traditions still live on among members of your home chapter? How are FFA members in your area living to serve?