The Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards honor FFA members who recognize market opportunities and develop solid business plans which capitalize on them. Awards are available at the chapter, state and national levels.
All Agri-Entrepreneurship Award applicants will receive a rating of bronze, silver, gold, or national winner. Ten National Agri-Entrepreneurship Award winners are selected annually. Each winner receives a $1,000 award and is recognized onstage during the National FFA Convention. The winners’ projects are also featured in a booth at the National FFA Agricultural Career Show. The winners’ FFA chapters also receive a $500 grant to help them promote entrepreneurship in their agriculture programs.
The Agri-Entrepreneurship Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
Here is a profile on one of this year’s 10 winners…
Doane’s Design
Name: Christopher Doane
Age: 16
Chapter: Letchworth FFA
Parents: Marie and Jonathan Doane
Advisor: Marie Doan and Lorrie Dennis
Christopher Doane of Gainesville, N.Y., has allergies that makes outdoor manual labor difficult. But having a love of agriculture, Doane was looking for a way to give back to that industry.
He has worked technological jobs in the past but realized agricultural producers in his area either didn’t have websites or had ones that didn’t work well for their business. Through the help and advice of his parents, Doane’s Design was created.
“Creating Doane’s Design has helped me gain a source of income and lower the effect of allergies on my day-to-day life,” Doane said.
Doane’s Design offers a range of services, from web design to DVD conversion services, graphic design, search engine optimization and other multimedia services. Doane hopes to continue to grow in his client base and add up to six new clients a year.
The high school junior plans to attend college and major in aerospace and computer engineering. “I am passionate about computers, technology and business,” he said. “I hope to one day find a career that can capitalize on all my passions.”
