South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc. Newsletter

SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 5, Issue 8 ~ | ~ February 2015

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:

The excitement is building in South Dakota FFA over the next few months, including National FFA week, a refreshed FFA emblem, and State FFA Convention in April will be here before we know it.

Join us in celebrating National FFA Week, Feb. 21-28. Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week on the week that encompasses George Washington's birthday. This is to recognize his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. The week provides an opportunity to FFA members, alumni and supporters to advocate for agricultural education and FFA and share the impact FFA has on members today. Some of my favorite FFA memories involve making pancakes & eggs at 6 a.m. for our businessman's breakfast. I was proud to share what our chapter was doing. Every FFA chapter conducts different activities during the week, but your local FFA chapters might host appreciation breakfasts, conduct "Ag Olympics" competitions, speak to the public about agriculture, volunteer for community service projects or come up with other innovative projects. I hope you'll take this week to share the impact FFA had on you, your family or your community with those around you.

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

Introducing the Refreshed FFA Emblem

Do you remember when the emblem read "Vocational Agriculture"?
A prevailing truth about human nature is that change can be tough. That’s especially true when it comes to iconic imagery that inspires pride, reflection, motivation and plenty more inside millions of people.

The FFA emblem is all of those things. It’s a mark that has stood the test of time, a familiar friend that takes us to our roots and stands for our pursuit of premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Keep reading to find out why the emblem changed and take a look at the revisions over the years…

Because of people behind the scenes, FFA members GO ALL OUT

The SD FFA Foundation believes in the future of agriculture, and helping our young people grow. Brad Kari, Newell FFA senior, “FFA has given me opportunities that no other school activity could give me. Going to WLC in Washington, D.C. this past summer allowed me the cool experience of meeting and making ties with people from around the country. Hand packing part of the 15,000 meals our group made for the D.C. area hungry was a humbling experience and I was amazed by how we made a big difference in a short amount of time."

"I’ve also learned tools such as public speaking and how to run a meeting, and experienced the ins and outs of politics in the agricultural community which I will use later in life. Lastly, the leadership skills I’ve gained will benefit me greatly with all kinds of things – college scholarships, job applications and my career. Knowing how to motivate myself to step up to the plate and do things for myself, my chapter, and my community, as well as mentoring others to do so has made me a better person and will change my life. I greatly appreciate all I’ve learned.”

We work hard, because we spark the fuel that lets future leaders GO ALL OUT to accomplish great things for agriculture! Thanks to all our sponsors behind the scenes at FFA events, providing the necessities to help students.

Upcoming events:

February 21-28 - National FFA Week - National FFA officer visiting various SD FFA chapters
February 28 – SDSU Corduroy Classic Basketball game @ 4:00pm, Brookings
February 19 – Proficiency and National Chapter Judging, Brookings - JUDGES NEEDED!
March 5 - Howard CDE
March 6 – Redfield CDE
March 10 – State Officer & Ambassador Applications DUE
March 10 – DeSmet CDE
March 31 – Miller CDE
March 18 - Flandreau CDE
March 31 – Lennox CDE
March 27 - Little International, Brookings
March 23 – Tri-Valley CDE
April 12-14 – State Convention

FFA members create videos advocating agriculture

South Dakota Soybean Association is excited to announce the winners of the 2015 FFA Video Contest. Winners were determined by the videos with the most views. Click here to watch all 6 videos. SD high school FFA members were challenged to create a video to share the story of today’s family farms. Congrats to:

1st - All About Those Beans, by West Central FFA members Erica Lorang and Taylor Lewin
2nd - GMO’s (“Shake it Off” Parody), by Deuel FFA members Jennifer Mueller and Colin Magedanz.
3rd - GM Foods, by Deuel FFA member Georgialee Quail.
4th - GMO Safety, by Deuel FFA members Lance Eide and Nick Cook.
5th - GMO Safety, by Deuel FFA members Sayer Fritz and Levi Schmahl.
6th - Genetically Modified Organism, by Deuel FFA members Haley Dearing and Tori Adkins.

FFA Career Carnival

South Dakota’s number one industry is agriculture and we produce some of the best crops and livestock in the world – and we need to raise our voice. Help future agricultural leaders go all outwith knowledge to share about the ag industry! We would like to invite businesses and commodity organizations to host a carnival game and interact one on one with the next generation of producers, leaders and consumers, during the SD FFA State Convention. Have a game to draw them in and then provide them the knowledge to promote and defend the agriculture industry, as well as possibly choose an agriculture career. The South Dakota State FFA will be hosting a Career Carnival for high school students on Monday, April 13, during the 2015 State FFA Convention on the SDSU campus. Cost is $200/booth - contact gerri@sdffafoundation.org for more information.

Experiencing the state capitol

Nearly 50 FFA district and state FFA officers met with state legislators and other government officials in Pierre, January 21-22 to share how FFA is helping them ignite their interest in leadership. Thank you to our continued and new sponsors (listed on our website) of the FFA Legislative Breakfast! Students visited the state capital in action learning about state government and shared their leadership experiences and the need for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources programs, so that FFA chapters can continue.

Business & Industry Visits

The South Dakota FFA State Officers will hold their annual Business & Industry Visits on March 9-11. You may see them as they travel through Pierre, Huron, Mitchell, Beresford, Yankton, Rapid City, Wall & Sturgis. This is a great opportunity for them to:

Learn more about various businesses representing South Dakota agriculture's diversity.
Learn about the future needs of the industry.
Share what agriculture education classes/FFA are doing to help meet the needs of South Dakota’s future.

Words and Deeds earn Swan family "FFA Family of the Year" Award

The SD FFA Foundation will award the annual “FFA Family-of-the-Year” award, honoring a family's long term involvement in the SD FFA/Agriculture Education program, on February 28, during half time of the SDSU/FFA Corduroy Classic basketball game. The purpose of this award is to recognize a FFA family that has gone the extra-mile for the SD FFA at the local and state levels through their words and deeds. The 2015 recipient of this award is the Tom & Karen Swan family, including Tom, Karen, TJ & Sonya, Jamie & Justin, & Tyler. Join us at the game to help us celebrate their involvement.

Advocate for Ag Ed during National FFA Week

February 21-28th is National FFA week, an ideal time to reconnect with the organization that may have played a role in where you are today. Show everyone you know that you support the FFA and are FOREVER BLUE! Share your FFA pride with others -

Drape your jacket on the back of your chair at work, hang it in your car for all to see, or display it on your coat rack at the office.
Post an old photo of you in your FFA jacket as your Facebook profile photo.
Share the South Dakota FFA Foundation facebook posts, to increase our # of followers
Run an ‘FFA Week challenge’ at work - put up a sign about FFA, ask for employee donations and get your company to match the total donations employees make! Send in your donations, marked as FFA week challenge - we'll highlight companies who participated in the next newsletter!

Help promote American agriculture, and share the positive things FFA and Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources programs provide for our youth. There’s also an FFA coloring contest, flyers to print off and share at local businesses, and table tents to print and set out at restaurants available for anyone to use at the SD FFA website.

State Convention is coming!

The South Dakota FFA Association and Foundation are deep in the heart of State Convention planning for 2015. Mark your calendars for April 12-14 and check next month for details. Sunday night there will be highlights of sponsors, proficiency awards and the Peterson Brothers as keynote speakers. Monday are the Career Development Events, workshops, Career Carnival, State Degree banquet, scholarships, National FFA Eastern Region Vice President Ruth Ann Myers speaking, and over 220 students will get their State FFA Degrees. Tuesday will be the Career Development results and the election of officers. Join us for the celebration!

JOIN US

Support the FFA! Anyone who believes in the importance of FFA & agricultural education can be a member. Even if you never wore a blue jacket yourself, you’re welcome to join the South Dakota FFA Alumni Association as we prepare students for a brighter future.

For more information contact:Dawn M. Nagel, SD FFA Alumni Coordinator, sdffaalumni@outlook.com

Featured Fundraisers:

Zoetis supports Local FFA chapters
South Dakota FFA chapters will again have the opportunity to earn funds through the Zoetis FFA Support Program starting in February. Eligible Zoetis accounts complete an enrollment form (by May 6), and receive a 1 percent rebate on all Zoetis cattle products, excluding MGA® purchases, from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2015. The rebate can be donated to local FFA chapter(s) of their choice. Talk to your local Pfizer rep and ask them to sign up for this program! Since the program’s start in 2008, S.D. FFA chapters have earned more than $81,000 from this program.

Drive with FFA Pride!
Put a FFA License plate on your vehicle!

When renewing your license plates or buying plates for a new vehicle at your County Treasurer's office, ask for “organization plates.” Plates are free for new issues and $10 for renewals.
Purchase a set of SD FFA license plate decals from the SD FFA Foundation at 39393 133rd St., Bath, SD 57427, 605-765-4865, or www.sdffafoundation.org. Decals are $15 for FFA Alumni and supporters of the FFA and Agriculture Education. Make checks payable to the SD FFA Foundation.
Put the decals on your organization license plates.

Plan a gift to the SD FFA Foundation
in your annual budget.

You can donate online here or mail a donation to: SD FFA Foundation, 39393 133rd St., Bath, SD 57427

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