Published: March 12, 2007 04:43 pm            

National FFA Foundation salutes top 30 donors in 2006

INDIANAPOLIS — The National FFA Foundation salutes its top 30 2006 donors who support student scholarships, national programs and student leadership development.

“We welcomed Ford Motor Co. as our first million dollar annual sponsor for the National FFA Organization in 2006 and are thrilled they stepped up to the plate to foster FFA youth and programs,” said Dennis Sargent, executive director of the National FFA Foundation.

The million dollar financial support will sponsor collegiate scholarships, the National FFA Agriscience Fair at the national convention, and Washington Leadership Conference, a week-long series of leadership workshops held for FFA members in the summer in Washington, D.C.

Other top donors are John Deere, Monsanto, National Pork Board, Chevrolet and Cargill. They are founding partners for the development of LifeKnowledge, an innovative leadership development curriculum program.

Business and industry become involved in the National FFA Organization because premier leadership, personal growth and career success are keys to successful employees and a future agricultural workforce.

“As agriculture continues to change, we need young people trained and interested in entering this important and dynamic field,” said Glenn A. Stith, vice president, Monsanto Co., and 2007 National FFA Sponsors Board chair. “As believers in the value of FFA and agricultural education, we can rest assured that our efforts are helping nearly 500,000 young people prepare for a life of service within their communities and the agriculture industry.”

Top donors are:
Ford Motor Co.
Cargill
Chevrolet
Monsanto
RFD-TV
Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. and Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing, North America
John Deere
DuPont, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.
State of Indiana
Archer Daniels Midland Co.
Dodge Trucks
Syngenta, Syngenta Seed
Timberland Co.
CNH, Case IH, New Holland
Dow AgroSciences
Tractor Supply Co.
BASF
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Kubota Tractor Corp.
National Pork Board
Elanco Animal Health, A Division of Eli Lilly and Co.
Land O'Lakes Feed/Purina Mills, Land O'Lakes Foundation
CHS Foundation
USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Rural Development
Lincoln Electric Co.
Merial
Stihl Inc.
Firestone Agricultural Tire Co.
Carhartt

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 495,046 student members — all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture — as part of 7,242 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

        

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