South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc.
SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 7, Issue 8 ~ | ~ March 2017

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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!Transform

Director’s Message:

Spring is coming … and I can't wait!  This winter has been long and cold but the eventual spring weather will be so much sweeter ... as will SD State FFA Convention which comes with it!  Students will display what they learned regarding 15 different Career Development Events, be inspired by workshops and speakers, and receive over $30,000 in awards and scholarships.  Mark your calendars and join us. As a friend, past member or sponsor, your support is important! The big event is April 23-25, in Brookings.

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

**** The SD FFA Association has a new website!  Check it out – it’s a work in progress at http://www.sdaged.org/ ****

How can FFA members do it? With YOU helping them TRANSFORM as leaders, putting purpose into action!

The SD FFA Foundation knows today's FFA members will be tomorrow's dynamic leaders - we work hard to give them the resources and experiences they need to TRANSFORM their skills as leaders and accomplish great things. We hear about the spark students had lit by DestinyFFA all the time ... Destiny Fox, Bowdle FFA says, “FFA has played a big part in my life since I moved to Bowdle.  Through my multiple CDEs, I’ve learned a lot in each event.  I was fortunate to attend National Convention and it was really fun and educational to experience everything and great meeting all the people.  I hope to go again, and thank the sponsors who helped make it happen!”Shea

Similarly, Shea Bunch, Sturgis Senior, shares “I attended WLC thanks to a sponsor.  I was nervous about going, but got a tremendous experience and was inspired to bring home a ‘living to serve’ plan that gets elementary and middle school students involved with animals.  This will teach them that agriculture matters to us all and you don’t need an ag background to get involved.” Individuals and businesses; small and large contributions … EVERY donation is important and empowers the SD FFA Foundation to TRANSFORM our members for success.  Thanks to all our sponsors who donate their time, talent and treasure.
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Upcoming events:

  • March 21 - Miller CDE
  • April 4, 11:00 am-3:00 pm, AgriScience Fair, Mitchell, SD
  • March 27 -  Tri-Valley CDE
  • March 29 – Sturgis CDE
  • March 31-April 1 - Little International, Brookings
  • April 5 – Bowdle CDE
  • April 5 – Newell CDE
  • April 7 – Groton CDE
  • April 12 - Lennox CDE
  • April 23-25 – State FFA Convention, Brookings
  • May 15 American Degree Applications Due
  • June 16 Leadership Retreat Scholarship Applications Due
  • June 7-9 - SD Range Camp
  • June 20-21 Rangeland & Soils Days, Wall
  • June 27-30 East River Leadership Retreat: Swan Lake
  • July 11-14 West River Leadership Retreat: Custer
  • July 30 – Aug 2 – SDAAE Conference, Brookings

"Like" us! Facebook

The South Dakota FFA Foundation is on Facebook, with a page to connect with past members and supporters, keep you informed of the many things we are doing, and recognize sponsors. Check it out and share with your friends.Enhance

Members get creative during FFA Week

I'm not sure if they made lots of noise, but during FFA week, SD FFA chapters sure should have been in the papers, on the radio and TV as they made an impact in their communities with all kinds of activities & celebrations!  Here are some highlights:

State FFA officers & local FFA members – heard on radio stations across the state
Local chapters worked with Tractor Supply locations, to support FFA growing Communities Grant program asking shoppers to donate $1 at checkout.  Money goes to grants for SD FFA chapters!

Members from all corners of SD traveled to Winner to hear Dr. Rick Rigsby speak and attend a school on Career Development Events. 

Red River Farm Network featured leaders in our state and how FFA impacted their careers and life. 

All kinds of local activities to celebrate, educate and advocate for agriculture education and FFA!

Career Carnival

The South Dakota State FFA will be hosting our annual South Dakota FFA Career Carnival for high school students on Monday, April 24, during the 2017 State FFA Convention. We would like to invite ag businesses, commodity groups and colleges to interact one on one with the next generation of producers, leaders and consumers, during the SD FFA State Convention. The information you provide will give students the knowledge to promote and defend the agriculture industry, as well as possibly choose your sector of agriculture as their career. Contact gerri@sdffafoundation.org for more information.

Living 2 Serve - providing MEALS of Hope!

The SD FFA Foundation is coordinating a Meals of Hope service project at State Convention, Monday April 24. Members will be coming together to tackle a serious problem while having some serious fun! They will be packaging meals, reaching for our goal of 50,000 meals, which will cost us $.25/meal. All meals packaged will go to Feeding South Dakota. Meeting this goal will result in Meals of Hope donating one WLC Scholarship to a SD member. We need FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR THE MEALS! Want to help? Donate online and mention the Meals of Hope project!

ENHANCE ... at this year's State Convention

Students are studying rigorously for their career development areas and attending district and regional events to sharpen their skills, so they can ENHANCE their passion, potential & performance at state convention to win their area. For many it's the thrill of winning, but as adults we know they are building career skills for a lifetime.

During convention hundreds of students will be recognized on stage for ENHANCED projects, experience and passion for agriculture with proficiency awards, state degrees, the STARS pageant, Agriscience Fair and National Chapter recognition, Career Development Events and scholarships. As a sponsor, be sure to join us for the VIP reception, Sunday April 23th at 6pm in HPER Center, upper level lobby. 

If you can’t attend, be sure to watch convention sessions through live streaming thanks to McCook Central FFA Chapter.  Watch sessions Sunday, April 23, 7-9; Monday, April 24, 7-10pm; Tuesday, April 25, 8-11:30am. Visit sdaged.org for video link.

There are several convention awards not yet sponsored in full.  Help invest in the future ... if you are interest or know someone who would be a good fit for these events please let us know! Sponsors can do the whole amount, or a portion of it. Enhance

Proficiency Areas
Forestry Management - $500
Diversified Horticulture - $500

Meats CDE travel scholarship - $400

Agriscience Fair
Plant Systems - $500
Social Systems - $500
Power Systems - $500
Environmental & Natural Resources Systems - $500

Meals of Hope Service project – $12,500 total needed

State Ambassador plaques - $75

Advisors are the Keyowl

FFA advisors have been “Here by the Owl” mentoring students for over 85 years and they are currently in short supply. For FFA to continue to be strong, we need dedicated and dynamic ag teachers!  Encourage a young person you know to become an ag teacher.  Say “Thank you,” in person to an FFA advisor you impacted your personal growth and career choices.  SHARE how an FFA advisor influenced your life.

Know someone interested in teaching Ag? TAG

Would they like help paying for college? Critical Needs Scholarships are available to undergraduate students in their final two years of post-secondary education pursuing a Critical Teaching Need area, including Agriculture Education! Applications are due April 15, 2017. Students receiving the scholarship promise to teach for 5 years in SD after graduating.

State Officers Spend Spring Break touring

It's was a whirlwind of a week. State Officers just finished Business and Industry visits, touring over 60 businesses in 3 days. March 6-8th was a great opportunity for many of our supporters to visit with South Dakota's State FFA Officers. The officers learn so much about the agriculture industry and potential careers in the industry. An experience that I believe is very valuable to their future.  Their purpose was twofold: to learn about current concerns in the agricultural industry and share the message of how FFA and agriculture education are preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow. 

Tours

South Dakota Youth Range Camp

Training tomorrow’s leaders today in range and natural resource management and the stewardship of natural resources - that's what range camp is all about. Youth, ages 14-18, in 4-H and FFA can learn about rangelands and their management June 7-9, at this year's SD Youth Range Camp, held near Sturgis, SD.

Way back when I was in high school, I attended this myself, learned tons, and had a blast doing it! What a great experience.To help sponsor a student, or information on attending (Click Here), contact: (605) 394-2236 or sdsu.wracadmin@sdstate.edu

Range Judging

Featured Fundraiser

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, 2017. The rebate can be donated to local FFA chapter(s) of their choice.  Talk to your local Zoetis 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 $100,000 from this program.

SD FFA Foundation

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


For more information, please contact gerri@sdffafoundation.org. or call (605) 765-4865
© 2017 South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc. 

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