South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc. Newsletter

SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 8, Issue 6 ~ | ~ December 2017

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:

As another year comes to a close, I'm excited at the growth of the past year and thankful for generous partners that are leading South Dakota FFA on a successful path.

This past year, SD FFA has nearly 5000 FFA members, added six new AgEd and FFA programs, welcomed a host of new ag teachers to the profession as well as the new slate of state officers, hosted the second annual Winter Teacher Development Conference, progressed on our capital campaign to reinvent the FFA Ag Adventure Center at the SD State Fair.

Looking forward, there is a lot of potential for growth and excitement for agricultural education in South Dakota. Several schools have expressed interest in starting a new Ag Ed program during the 2018-19 school year. Planning has underway for several new regional Enhancing Teen Performance conferences this winter and the 2018 FFA State Convention, the capital campaign continues, and teachers are planning their professional development schedules for next summer.

Finally, in light of all the excitement in the SD FFA, I'd like to encourage you to consider making a year-end gift to the South Dakota FFA Foundation. The Foundation is committed to supporting South Dakota agricultural education and FFA. With your help, the Foundation is able to support the growth of FFA in more communities, plugging students into the ag industry, support agriculture teachers and continue to build statewide leadership capacity. Please consider making a donation supporting these initiatives today.

Thank you for your commitment to South Dakota's FFA members. May you have a happy holiday season and a happy new year.

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

FFA members embrace tradition and new...

The holiday season is full of tradition. The FFA is built on a solid tradition of agriculture and involves some family traditions too. Sydney Hoffman, Bridgewater-Emery student is the daughter of an ag teacher/past state officer, and her sister was also a state officer. Sydney Brought in as part of a family tradition, FFA became so much more, “At my 1st FFA event, I was shy and some older FFA members walked up and started talking to me, and helped me relax. I was so amazed and I knew I wanted to be like that, helping others. I started pushing myself to be that outgoing one at events and attended every FFA event I could. Sponsors make all those events – from summer leadership retreats & the state fair to land judging and leadership events, and many more possible. Thanks!”

The SD FFA Foundation believes in the traditions of agriculture life and sees great promise in our SD youth. We are happy to help new chapters get need materials, new members get jackets, and all members get new experiences. That's why we constantly work to share the value of agriculture education with the public and create positive growth experiences for student members.

EVERY donation, big or small, individual or corporate, is valued by the SD FFA Foundation and helps members grow in leadership.

Upcoming events:

January 5-6 – Winter Professional Ag Teacher Development - Brookings
January 10– State FFA Degrees due in District 2, 5, 6 & 7
January 12 - Enhancing Team Performance Lock-In, Mellette
January 15 - State FFA Degrees due in District 1 & 3
January 17-18 - District Officer Training, Pierre
January 18 - FFA Legislative Breakfast and Foundation meeting, Pierre
January 26 – State Officer & Ambassador school, Brookings
February 1 - Honorary State Degree and Distinguished Service nominations due, Brookings
February 1 – National FFA Scholarship applications due, online
February 1 – Star applications due, Brookings
February 10 – Proficiency Review Day, Salem
February 10 – Jr. High Enhancing Team Performance conference, Salem
March 1 – State FFA & WLC scholarship applications due, Brookings
February 26 - Proficiency Judging, Brookings, SD
March 2 – Redfield CDE
March 5 – National Chapter Award applications due, Brookings
March 5 – Howard CDE
March 10 – State Officer & Ambassador applications due, Brookings
March 13 – Watertown CDE
March 13 - Platte Geddes CDE
March 20 - Miller CDE
March 20- Flandreau CDE
March 23 – Little I, Brookings
March 23 - Enhancing Team Performance Lock-In, Hartford
March 28 - Tri-Valley CDE
April 3 - 11 – 3 pm, State Agri-Science Fair, Mitchell, SD
April 5 – Groton CDE
April 6 – Lennox CDE
April 15-17 – State FFA Convention, Brookings
July 30 – Aug 2 – SDAAE Conference, Rapid City

State Leadership CDE’s

Congratulations to the nearly 600 students who participated in State Leadership CDEs December 3-4 in Pierre. Click here to check out the winners. Bennett County

Tate Risse & Tyler Byrne, Weston Iremand & Hunter Caverack, from the Bennett County FFA (one of SD's new chapters) shared,“We have received an opportunity that we never imagined with getting a new chapter. FFA is allowing us to advance our agricultural knowledge, for which we could never say thank you enough. The opportunity to experience and compete in the State Leadership Events is indescribable.”

The SD FFA Foundation, through specific sponsors and the general fund, provided the banquet meal for student participants in 11 events, the awards for the top individuals and teams, and travel scholarships for those that advance to nationals next October. The sponsors and volunteers who help make this event happen are truly appreciated.

Star Partners connect one on one with FFA members

This year's State Leadership CDE's provided members career exploration opportunities. When students were done competing, they could still learn, grow and explore industry contacts through workshops and an interactive Career Carnival. AT&T hosted two workshops on Cyber Bullying for our members. Thanks to AT&T, North Central Farmers Elevator, RDO Equipment, East River Electric, Producers Hybrids, SD Wheat Growers, and BankWest for providing interactive displays for FFA members to ask questions, explore future career opportunities, make contacts, and learn about SD ag businesses. Unfortunately, the weather hindered several additional Star Partners who were planning to attend.

Featured Fundraisers

SD FFA at the State Fair!
During this season of giving, please investing in the future with a year-end tax-deductible gift to support SD FFA members.

SD FFA is renovating the SD FFA Ag Adventure Center at the state fair and adding hands on ag learning activities. Building updates are complete, with a new look, and are working to showcase modern agriculture practices with hands on learning for all ages.

Leave a Legacy
Did you know we accept non-cash gifts such as equipment, land and grain? If you still happen to have some of last year's harvest left in your bins and are struggling to determine how to handle it, we would love to talk to you about helping FFA members achieve the yield of Premier Leadership! The process is simple and only takes a minute to complete--we are here to help you make it happen

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