Brainerd FFA donated $150 to the nonprofit True Friends.
The funds will help provide scholarships and program support for kids and adults with disabilities to attend one of five camps offered by the nonprofit.
Many FFA chapters partake in fundraising activities for camp, including fruit sales and battery drives, but corn drives are the most popular fundraiser. The corn drive tradition began in 1953 after a large storm passed through the area. Freeborn FFA Advisor Lee Asche had the idea to gather the corn that fell to the ground and sell it to the elevator. They took the money raised from this effort, $90, and donated it to Camp Courage. This allowed one Freeborn resident with polio to attend summer camp.
Since then the corn drive has raised more than $5.5 million for Camp Courage and True Friends. Today, more than 60 chapters participate in the corn drive or other fundraising activity each year to help support campers while they go tubing, fishing, horseback riding and ziplining at camp.
For more information about True Friends and Camp Courage, visit www.truefriends.org or call 952-852-0101.
