Are you up to the challenge?

The FFA Chapter Challenge is back! This time we’ve opened up the competition to even more chapters, and we have two options for participation.

Chapters can choose either the Voting Challenge (compete for the most votes and interview 10 agriculturalists in your community), or the Chapter Advocacy Portfolio Challenge (compete by building a digital portfolio for your chapter). In order to be eligible to earn votes, your chapter must be registered. See the How to Participate section on the FFA Chapter Challenge website for more information.

The grand prize is a trip for 7 to the 2013 National FFA Convention and $2,000 FFA Credit Certificate.

The competition is open to chapters in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The program is sponsored by Monsanto.

 

Help us get a Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits.org!

We want the whole world to love FFA as much as you do. That’s why we’re aiming for Top-Rated award from GreatNonprofits.org.

If we’re one of the winners, we’ll get national coverage in several popular online media outlets, which means we can reach even more potential FFA members and supporters!

All you have to do to help us, is write a review of the National FFA Organization on our GreatNonprofits profile page. We need 10 positive reviews by November 10 to make the Top-Rated list.

Thanks for your help in attracting more support for FFA programs!

What’s your SAE gonna be?

Think of what your SAE could be if you had $1,000… Apply for an SAE grant by November 10!

SAE grants are now available

The Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is the cornerstone of any agricultural education program. Through their SAEs students gain the hands-on experience they need to learn the business and leadership skills that are critical to their future success.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to get an SAE started without a little capital. Many students find that they need to purchase special equipment, livestock, seeds, training materials and other resources to get their SAE off the ground.

That’s where SAE grants come in. Any current FFA in grades  7- 11 can apply for a $1,000 grant in the career pathway of their choice.

So, don’t delay! The deadline for grant applications is November 15.

SAE grants are sponsored by CTB INC, CROPP Organic Valley/Organic Prairie, Horizon Organic, Keystone Steel and Wire – Red Brand, National Onion Association, Novartis Animal Health, Triscuit and Trouw Nutrition USA, LLC

And, your Champions of Change honorees are…

On October 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Public Engagement will welcome 4-H and FFA members and their mentors to the White House to recognize the exceptional ways they are impacting their communities.

The White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens across the country who are “Winning the Future” with projects and initiatives that move their communities forward.  Each week, the Office of Public Engagement (OPE) hosts an event to honor those who are working to empower and inspire other members of their communities.

The recognition ceremony for FFA and 4-H members will be broadcast live at www.whitehouse.gov/live on October 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Read on to learn more about each FFA honoree…

Congratulations, 2012 American Degree Recipients!

We’ve just announced our 2012 American FFA Degree recipients!

The American FFA Degree is awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs).

Approximately 3,500 American FFA Degrees are handed out each year at the National FFA Convention. That number represents less than half of one percent of all FFA members, making it one of the organization’s highest honors.

If you can’t make it to convention this year, you can watch the American FFA Degree ceremony live on RFD-TV  on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:45 a.m. Eastern.

A special thanks goes out to the sponsors of the American FFA Degree program, Alltech Inc.; Case IH; Elanco; Farm Credit; Pioneer Hi-Bred, A DuPont Business; and Syngenta.

Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients on your outstanding accomplishments!

American Star Award Finalists

We’ve selected 16 finalists for the organization’s top awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience!

These awards recognize students who have accomplished amazing things through their FFA activities and agricultural education courses.

Each star finalist receives $2,000 from the National FFA Foundation and earns the opportunity to participate in an international experience tour to Costa Rica.

A panel of judges will interview the finalists and select one winner for each award at the 85th National FFA Convention, October 24-27, in Indianapolis, In. Winners will receive an additional $2,000 award.

The finalists are…

Living to Serve: Environmental Grants

Earth Team Volunteer and National Proficiency Award Winner Mallory McDevitt

 

 

We are  excited to announce a new grant opportunity for FFA chapters:  Living to Serve: Environmental Grants!

Chapters may apply for up to $2,000 to support year-long service-learning projects focused on developing and implementing projects that address local environmental needs.

Applications are due June 1, 2012. Project topics include, but are not limited to:

• Wildlife conservation
• Land preservation
• Environmental education and stewardship
• Recycling and composting

The application and additional information can be found on the grant website, www.FFA.org/envirogrants.

The Living to Serve: Environmental Grants are provided through funding from CSX as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.