INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, June 12, 2017/National FFA Organization) – – The National FFA Organization has selected 50 outstanding young people to participate in the 2017 New Century Farmer conference. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women committed to pursuing a career in production agriculture.

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017/National FFA Organization) – During the past two weeks, 75 FFA members visited South Africa for a 12-day educational and cultural experience.

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016/National FFA Organization) – Agriculture plays a key role in our daily lives and in a variety of ways. Next week, more than half a million FFA members will celebrate the role agriculture plays in our live...

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016/National FFA Organization) – During the past two weeks, 75 members visited South Africa for a 12-day educational and cultural experience.

Members participated in the 2016 International Leadership Sem...

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015/National FFA Organization) - Students from Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Iowa, Georgia and Utah have been elected by delegates from throughout the United States to serve on the 2015-16 National FFA Officer team.

Taylor McNeel of Arkansas, an agricultural business major at Southern Arkansas University, was elected president. Nick Baker of Tennessee, an agricultural communications major at the University of Tennessee, will serve as secretary.

Sydney Snider of Ohio, an agricultural communications major at The Ohio State University, was elected eastern region vice president and Abrah Meyer of Iowa, an agricultural business major at Iowa State University, will serve as central region vice president.

Abbey Gretsch of Georgia, an agricultural communications major at the University of Georgia, was elected southern region vice president and Sarah Draper of Utah, an agricultural education major at Utah State University, will serve as western region vice president.

Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as National FFA officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.

National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 629,367 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 9, 2015/National FFA Organization) - The National FFA Organization has selected 50 outstanding young people to participate in the 2015 New Century Farmer program. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women committed to pursuing a career in production agriculture.

Participants representing 50 states will take part in an intensive seminar July 12-18 in Johnstown, Iowa. They will learn from each other and industry experts during a series of workshops and sessions. Topics will include the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. New Century Farmers will hear from motivating and informative keynote speakers who will educate them on the risk and rewards involved with production agriculture. In addition to classroom learning, students will experience the latest developments in agricultural technology.

The New Century Farmer program is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer; Case IH; CSX Corporation; and Farm Credit with media partner Successful Farming as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The program is designed to provide participants with valuable skills and knowledge applicable to their own farming operations. In addition, they will build a network of colleagues that will benefit them throughout their careers.

The 2015 New Century Farmers are:

California: Erica Larson of Sonoma; Cassidy Steenbock of Romoland
Iowa: Geordan Hanson of Elgin Iowa
Idaho: Kellsie Hodges of Salmon
Illinois: Patrick King of Oneida
Indiana: Jared Baird of Scottsburg, Mallarie Stookey of Milford
Kansas: A.J. Carlson of Clay Center
Massachusetts: Brianna Mann of Stoneham
Maryland: Jordan Borkoski of Baltimore; Dalton Clabaugh of Keymar
Michigan: Dalton Hard of Quincy; Ethan Haywood of Hastings
Minnesota: Jack Chisholm of Gary; Sam Mellgren of Cologne; Brett Petersen of Murdock
Missouri: Monica Campen of Canton; Emilee Haubner of Auxvasse; Cody Jones of Fulton; Jade Morgan of Lamar
Montana: Cali Christensen of Big Timber
North Carolina: Harrison Jenkins of Stony Point; Cara Ruth Pace of Clayton
North Dakota: Justin Bartholomay of  Sheldon; Kady Rath of McClusky; Joshua Stutrud of Barton; Brandon Weber of Thompson; Verlin Zacharias of Kathryn; Donovan Zacharias of Kathryn
New York: Logan Martin of Salamanca; Ryker Smith of Manilius
Ohio: Ryan Goddard of Urbana; Logan Russell of Wapakoneta; Ryan Schwyn of Marysville; D.J. Steele of Amanda; Lee Turner of Waynesfield; Ashley Vogt of Shelby; Ryan Walker of Houston
South Dakota: Adam Krause of Clear Lake; Tara Parmely of Miller
Utah: Calee Lott of Oakley
Virginia: Cole Ramsey of Waynesboro
Washington: Tanner White of Prosser; Olivia Zurcher of Mesa
Wisconsin: Brad Jaeger of Newton; Jackson Remer of Omro; Austin Sprecher of Sauk City; Aaron Zimmerman of Spencer

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, March 16, 2015/National FFA Organization) - This week, 36 state FFA officers will gather at the nation's capital to celebrate National Ag Day. This is the 42nd anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country.

Organized by the Agricultural Council of America, events during Ag Day mark a nationwide effort to tell the story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is all around us. Those expected to participate include producers, agricultural associations, corporations and student and government organizations involved in agriculture.

Goals for the day include encouraging Americans to understand how food and fiber products are produced; to appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; to value the role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; and to encourage people to consider career opportunities in the industries of agriculture, food and fiber.

"Agriculture plays a key role in all of our everyday lives," Kent Schescke, director of government and nonprofit relations for the National FFA Organization, said. "FFA is pleased that we can play a role in helping others know the importance of agriculture, especially during the National Ag Day program."

FFA members, along with students from 4-H, Agriculture Future of America and Student NAMA (The National Agri-Marketing Association), will take the message of the importance of agriculture and agricultural education to Capitol Hill and visit their congressional leaders.

FFA officers who are participating in the event include : Matthew Smith of Russellville, Ark.; Jessy Stanavage of Colchester, Conn.; Abrah Meyer of Ankeny, Iowa; Mackenzie Lewis of Ankeny, Iowa; Willow Krumwiede of Pittsfield, Ill.; Andrew Klien of Amboy, Ill.; Jacob Mueller of Trafalgar, Ind.; Derek Berkshire of Trafalgar, Ind.; Darilyn Browning of Taylorsville, Ky.; Jenell Eck of Henderson, Md.; Alexandria Schut of Belding, Mich.; Ethan Haywood of Hastings, Mich.; Brady Wulf of Starbuck, Minn.; Morgan Walkup of Gower, Mo.; Claire Silvers of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; Hailey Clark of Carthage, Miss.; Tyler Presley of Ripley, Miss.; Allie Nelson of Great Falls, Mont.; Anthony Scala of Raleigh, N.C.; Joseph Jenkins of Stony Point, N.C.; Benjamin Rice of Firth, Neb.; Manuel Catala of Brentwood, N.H.; Maria Suzanne Daneault of Alton, N.H.; Kyle Fisher of Hancock Bridge, N.J.; Benjamin Wainwright of Cream Ridge, N.J.; Sydney Snider of Moscow, Ohio; Ellen Minihan of Brandon, S.D.; Nick Baker of Cookeville, Tenn.; Elena Smith of Drummonds, Tenn.; Zach McMeans of Austin, Texas; Katie Holt of Austin, Texas; Zach Jacobs of Swoope, Va.; Brittany Bowman of Blacksburg, Va.; Megan Miller of Bonney Lake, Wash.; Maya Wahl of Lind, Wash.; and Alison Wedig of Darlington, Wis.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 610,240 student members as part of 7,665 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 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. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.
About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees comprised of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA alumni, the foundation is a separately-registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.