2015 National FFA Scholarship Recipients Announced

The National FFA Organization and Foundation has announced more than $2.7 million in scholarships awarded to 2,152 recipients – made possible thanks to the generosity of 127 sponsors.

More than 7,000 students applied for the scholarships, with many of the applicants being considered for multiple scholarships. They were able to apply for the scholarships online, and approximately one of every three who applied was awarded a scholarship. The scholarships available ranged for either two-year or four-year degrees or vocational programs. The average recipient had a GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and were in the top 15 percent of their class.

Go Inside the CSX Exhibit at the National FFA Convention & Expo

Now this is cool.

CSX exhibited at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo last fall with a huge booth that took FFA members through every step of transporting agricultural goods in the U.S. From trains to trucks, the interactive setup showed FFA members how the whole process works — and what types of careers make the important journey possible.

Oh, and FFA members who completed the tour had a nice reward: some popcorn and chicken nuggets!

Be on the lookout this fall for CSX (a proud platinum-level FFA sponsor) at the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo!

It’s Not So Bad to Start at the Bottom

If you’re currently a student working at what you consider to be a dead-end minimum wage job … well, congrats! Working your way through high school and college is an accomplishment itself and you shouldn’t be afraid to share your stories and what you’ve learned when you are looking forward in your career.

Perspectives: FFA Made STEM Cool …Before it Was Cool

by Joshua E. Rice, Ph.D

Science, technology, engineering and math are terms that I encounter on a daily basis. Today, STEM is one of the primary focal points of many educational initiatives for both formal and non-formal education settings.

Look around: advertisements advocating for STEM can be seen on billboards and TV commercials throughout the world. One thing I find interesting about the push for more STEM inclusion in education is the fact that STEM has been the backbone of the National FFA Organization for nearly 100 years.

Use Job Shadowing to Find Your Career

How do you know if your dream career is the right fit for you?

There are hundreds of tests and quizzes online to assure you. You can spend hours in the classroom and in college lecture halls filling your toolbox with information you hope to be able to put to use one day. There are even job descriptions available for job seekers that give a broad overview of the exact position you may wish to fulfill in the job market.

Going All Out for Career Success

By Cassie Olson

LOUISVILLE — You’ve completed your career development events and received your FFA degrees. You’ve passed your classes and invested countless hours into a supervised agricultural experience project. Your time as an FFA member has prepared you for a successful career in agriculture, and now it’s time to go out and find it.

Finding the right internship or career is no easy task. For Tom Spain of New Jersey, the National FFA Career Fair is the perfect opportunity to find the right fit with a potential employer.

CHS Announces $1.5 Million Gift for FFA and Agricultural Education

Thursday was already going to be a great day — we were celebrating National Teach Ag Day — but it was made even better with a major announcement that will benefit FFA and agricultural education for years to come.

CHS, a global agribusiness involved in energy, grains and foods owned by U.S. farmers, ranchers and cooperatives, announced during National Teach Ag Day celebrations in Minneapolis a substantial, multi-year gift to the National FFA Foundation. 

USDA Launches New Website for New Farmers and Ranchers

Farmers work hard. They work to produce food that will eventually be on our dinner plate, while dealing with unpredictable weather, long hours and countless risks. New farmers face more obstacles with starting their operations with acquiring land, equipment and capital as well as learning about regulations and insurance policies.

With these new challenges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture hopes to guide the next generation of farmers for their future careers. As FFA members are also preparing to be future leaders in the industry, USDA’s New Farmers website could be used as a valuable resource.

How to be confident in an interview

Confidence is the key to a good interview.

Editor’s note: Steven Brockshus is the National FFA Central Region Vice President from Sibley, Iowa.

Written by Steven Brockshus

Let’s face it, interviews can be nerve-wracking. You walk into a room of random people, answer some questions and they get to know you a whole lot better than you get to know them.

While you might feel like a nervous wreck on the inside, it’s important to show confidence on the outside. Check out these few tips to not only look confident in the interview room, but be confident as well.

#Borlaug100: Who was Norman Borlaug?

Dr. Norman Borlaug is a popular name this week. But who exactly is Dr. Borlaug?

Before we get too deep into his biography and impact, just consider this: Dr. Norman E. Borlaug is one of only three Americans ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Elie Wiesel join Dr. Borlaug on that prestigious list.

Dr. Borlaug — he passed away in 2009 — is at the forefront of conversation this week for a few reasons.