The SD FFA Email Newsletter highlights special projects of the SD FFA and SD FFA Foundation.  Please forward this newsletter to others you know who are involved and interested in FFA and agriculture education. Thank you for your support of the FFA in South Dakota!

Director's Message:

School is back in full swing and FFA chapters are gearing up for all kinds of exciting events!  Please contact your local advisor to see how you can help make a positive difference in the lives of FFA members by developing their premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.

Gerri Ann Eide, Executive Director, SD FFA Foundation, Inc.

We Believe in the Future of Agriculture ...

Upcoming events:

September 22 - Central Area Land & Range Judging, Wessington Springs

September 26 & 27 - FFA phon-a-thon

September 27 - Southeast Area Land Judging, Colton area

September 28 -
Western Area Land & Range Judging, Wall
Northeast Area Land & Range Judging, Webster

October 1 - Blue Jackets Bright Futures FFA Jacket Program - student jacket applications due

October 19-22 - National FFA Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana

November - District FFA Leadership Career Development Events - dates coming soon!

December 4-5 - State Leadership Career Development Events, Pierre

State Fair experiences great turn out

Hands on learning was everywhere at the FFA Ag Learning Center and Animal Nursery at the SD State Fair. FFA members shared messages about global agriculture, farm production, safety and animal care through fun activities and exhibits. The building was continuously full. Thank you to the SD Veterinary Medical Association for being involved Friday, SOFY presentations on Saturday, and Amanda Radke for her book signing and donation Sunday. 239 FFA members also had 614 exhibits in beef, sheep, swine, dairy, horticulture, ag mechanics and agriscience - click here to see the results.  

Thanks to all the sponsors that help make FFA livestock shows, awards and the Ag Learning Center possible: Dakotaland Feeds, CHS Foundation, Tri State Livestock News, DeJong Ranch, Advocates for Ag, Stangl Shorthorns, Genex - Dakota Sire Service, Midwest Ag Supply, Lechner Brother Showpigs, Team Johnke, Lazy J Bar Ranch, Cattle Business Weekly, Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Thompson family, Knutson Suffolks, Jakober Limousin, and Wirt Farms.

Visit one-on-one with FFA members!

Once we've worn an FFA jacket or worked with those that do, we find ourselves Forever Blue. College FFA members will be getting on the phones September 26 & 27 to re-connect with former SD FFA members and affiliates who are Forever Blue. Please share your FFA and agriculture education experiences, memories and suggestions with them as they contact you to visit about current happenings in the SD FFA.  We appreciate the time you take to visit with them.  

Coming your way ....

Help us find past FFA members!

The SD FFA Foundation wants to reconnect with past members who believe in the future of agriculture... we know there are LOTS out there. It's more than just looking for financial supporters - it's finding people who will openly share with others what FFA has done for them. We need to share the message that we believe in the future of agriculture, just like the creed says.

Please share names, addresses and/or email addresses of past members with: Gerri@sdffafoundation.org. We want to invite them to get active again by judging, coaching, mentoring, or financing local and state FFA activities.

Land and Range judging teaches appreciation of Natural Resources

Riding horse is a rare, but welcome pleasure for me. Last night, as I rode across our pasture, enjoying the beautiful weather and studying the calf crop, I found myself admiring the purple flowers of Dotted Gayfeather, the red hue of Big Blue Stem, and the silver tint of Silver-leaf Scurf Pea. Although my land and range judging experiences were years ago and I don't remember everything, I do appreciate the variety of plants and animals on our prairie and the care it takes from farmers to keep them all healthy. September is the time FFA members learn to identify land characteristic and slope, range plants and growth patterns, and how to be good stewards of these resources, managing them for the future. Thank you to LeRoy and Cathie Draine, Black Hawk, SD, for sponsoring $100 scholarships for the 1st place regional range judging individuals.  

National FFA Convention ... I believe

Imagine a world of happiness -  where family and community mean everything, where passion abounds and where there is no such thing as the impossible. That is the kind of world that we believe in. October 19-22, more than 55,000 student leaders, several hundred from SD, will come together to celebrate those beliefs. The streets of Indianapolis will be flooded with blue jackets as students spread the message of agriculture, engage in National Days of Service, participate in interactive workshops, check out the career show, are inspired by motivating sessions, take part in rigorous career development events and meet fellow FFA members. 

National FFA Central Region Vice President, Wyatt DeJong, from Winner, SD, along with the other officers will guide FFA members to discover what they believe in. Follow convention happenings at: https://www.ffa.org/Events/NationalFFAConvention/Pages/default.aspx or on RFD-TV.

Featured Fundraisers:

Sponsor an FFA Jacket for $55

Do you remember…

• The first time you zipped up an FFA jacket?
• The pride of wearing the jacket?
• The confidence you see developed in members?         

Now you can give that excitement to a new member. The SD FFA Foundation's Blue Jackets Bright Futures Jacket Program provides members with the opportunity to earn an FFA jacket through an application process. Anyone can sponsor.  Jackets will be awarded in October 2011.

Donate to the SD FFA Foundation!
You can click here to donate online or mail your contribution to: SD FFA Foundation, 39393 133rd St., Bath, SD 57427. Thank you!