South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc.
SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 8, Issue 2 ~ | ~ August 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:

School has started up again ... where did the summer go?  My youngest child is counting the days with excitement and anxiety until she begins 4th grade and learns new things.  Even though many high school students have learned to mask it well, they too are seeking opportunities to grow in knowledge, leadership and personal growth.  Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources classes offer the perfect place for students to ignite their passion - spread the word and encourage all high school students to take the risk, and join an ag class and FFA.

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

Thanks for helping transform their leadership

Thank you for donating to the SD FFA Foundation! This past year was our best year ever, and we were able to provide more financial support for events, scholarships and awards than ever before. EVERY donation, big or small, is valued by the SD FFA Foundation and the members it impacts.  Because of your generosity, we are awarded 236 jackets to members last year, and are hoping to do even more this fall. 

It means so much for members to have their own corduroy jacket! Noah Hovorka, Harrisburg, “In order to feel like I am an official part of the FFA I felt I needed my own FFA jacket.  I now have a place to display my accomplishments by wearing the pins I earn on my jacket, and no longer need to rely on wearing someone else’s jacket.  Thank you.” Craig

In addition, Craig Schaeffer, Menno FFA says, “FFA has grown me in many ways through leadership events and has given me personal confidence! I would not have been able to participate in FFA to the extent that I do without a sponsor paying it forward with a jacket for members.””Thank you for your time, talent and treasure!

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Upcoming events:

  • August 27
    4:00 – 5:00 pm – FFA State Fair Ag Mechanics building will be open to bring entries in.

  • August 31- September 4: SD State Fair, Huron - FFA/Ag Exhibit building and Ag Learning Center/Animal Nursery open to the public 9a.m. - 8p.m.

FFA livestock shows at the State Fair -

Friday, September 1

6:00pm – Market and Breeding Meat Goat show –4-H north show ring; Dairy Goat show  4-H south show ring

Saturday, September 2
  
1:00 pm - Beef Show, OC Beef Barn
6:00 pm – Rabbit Show – Rabbit barn

Sunday, September 3

9:30 am - Dairy Show, OC Dairy Barn
6:00 pm - Sheep Show, 4H Livestock Show Ring

Monday, September 4

7:30 am - Swine Show, OC Swine Barn
4:00 pm - Round Robin, OC Beef Barn

SD FFA Foundation

SD FFA Foundation Board Members Meet

July 30th, the SD FFA Foundation met for a day-long board meeting. This annual summer meeting sets the direction and goals for the 2017-18 fiscal year. While the efforts of these board members do not go unnoticed, these individuals cannot be recognized enough for their hard work and support of SD FFA Foundation.

Meet our 2017-18 Board Members: Sandy Osterday, President; Jim Wilson, Vice President; Jeff VanderWilt, Treasurer; Beth Mayrose, Secretary; Greg Janisch, Budget Committee chair; Brett Heezen, Sponsoring Committee chair, Terry Leonhardt, Lyle Anderson, Dan Tonak, Steve Enger, Wyatt DeJong, Erin Wammen,  Wes Hotchkiss, Noelle Swanson, Tom Wolf, Craig Dybedahl, Andrew Streff, Jordanne Howe and Michelle Nelson.

I believe in the Future of Agriculture ...

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.  Share the message that you believe in the future of agriculture, just like the creed says.  Like us on facebook, share our facebook page, encourage others to subscribe to our e-newsletter, 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.

Monsanto offering Scholarships for SD Students Studying Agriculture

Monsanto, with the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders program, hopes to get students in rural America excited about agriculture careers and help them develop the skills they need to fill those roles. With $1,500 to put toward their college education, students will be better prepared to make a meaningful contribution that benefits themselves, their rural hometowns and the future of the agriculture industry.
Presented by Monsanto Company, America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, 12 SD students received $1500 scholarships in 2017, and the program will continue in 2018.
Check out Monsanto for more details.

SD State FAirRemember the big one?

Catching up with friends from across the state is always my favorite part of the state fair - from the 1st time I attended at age 9 to this year's. 100 degrees days, meals on the run, hanging out in the FFA buildings to see what’s new, and livestock shows finished in pickup headlights because the power went out didn't take away from the fun,  just added to the adventure and memories. Reconnect with fair friends at the FFA Ag Adventure Center, or one of our livestock shows.  This year's SD State Fair is August 31 - September 4 in Huron. FFA has added dairy & meat goat shows recently, and expanded exhibits in our Ag Adventure center, so looking forward to the new things.  See our schedule above.

Thanks to all the sponsors that help make FFA livestock shows and awards, and the Ag Adventure Center activities possible:

Dakotaland Feeds, AT&T, BankWest, CHS Foundation, RDO Equipment, Croplan by Winfield United, C & B Operations, Monsanto, DuPont-Pioneer, Farm Credit Services of America, East River Electric, Twin City Northland Ford Dealers, SD Wheat Growers, North Central Farmers Elevator, SD Corn Utilization Council; SD Farm Bureau, US Army/Army ROTC; Butler Machinery, ADM-Benson Quinn, Hanson Associates; BASF; DeJong Ranch, Diamond V, Stangl Shorthorns, Cattle Business Weekly, Midwest Ag & Veterinary Service, Peterson Livestock, Team Johnke, C & M Cattle, Wilson Sheep Company, Whetstone Commodities, Larsen Livestock, Rasmussen Show Livestock, Cargill of Vienna, Lazy J Bar Ranch, Harringa Dairy, Antelope Pass Ranch, Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Thompson family, Knutson Suffolks, Jakober Limousin, John & Alex Kahnke, Odden Cattle Company & Odden Trucking

Create the future - teach!

What's the #1 challenge for agriculture education in SD and across the nation?  Finding qualified ag teachers to fill openings in school districts who have, or want to start an Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources program. 

Pierre, Aberdeen Central, Belle Fourche, Yankton, Montrose, and  Bennett County were fortunate to find ag teachers to start 6 new programs.  This year several schools filled teacher openings with individuals with community members willing to work toward alternative certification in agriculture education.  A few more schools are still looking. Please help agriculture education fill this need:

  1. Encourage young people to consider teaching as a rewarding profession
  2. Consider teaching yourself, as a career change with a dusty degree or through alternative certification
  3. Rrecruit quality community members to teach through alternative certification options.

We all want agriculture education to succeed in SD - that takes quality, qualified teachers.  Help make that happen! 

Check out the SD FFA Ag Adventure Center!

Be sure to walk through the FFA Building at the State Fair. This year we are adding several exciting new exhibits, including a robotics milking system, grocery food cases, theme day activities, farm to table interactive pieces, and of course we still have animals! 

Ag Adventure Center

Ag Adventure Center

Star PartnerSD FFA Star Partner Program

The SD FFA Foundation has a great way for businesses to partner with us! The program is designed with varying levels of participation, affording participants the flexibility to choose their level of sponsorship through the SD FFA Foundation - helping us meet the needs of our special projects. A cooperative effort, under the direction of the SD FFA Foundation, involves our Team Ag Ed members - SDAAE, The SD FFA Alumni Association, the SD FFA Association, SD Postsecondary Agriculture Education events, and SDSU Ag Education.  Each of these organizations promote Star Partners accordingly. Thanks to our Team Ag Ed Star partners!

Distinguished Star Partners - Northland Ford Dealers

4 Star Partners - Monsanto

3 Star Partners - CHS Foundation & North Central Farmers Elevator

2 Star Partners - ADM Benson Quinn, Bank West, SD Wheat Growers, Producers Hybrids

1 Star Partners - AT&T; BASF; Butler Machinery; DuPont-Pioneer; East River Electric; Farm Credit Services of Americas; Hanson Associates, LLC; Midwest Ag & Veterinary Service; RDO Equipment (Aberdeen, Webster, Redfield, Sioux Falls, Rapid City); SD Corn Utilization Council; SD Farm Bureau; US Army/Army ROTC; WinField United, and C & B Operations, LLC (Gettysburg, Selby, Roscoe, Miller, Freeman, Yankton, Wagner, and Mitchell).

Check out our Star Partner website to learn more.

Featured FundraiserJackets

Support FFA Members through Blue Jackets. Bright Futures
"When people see me in my FFA Jacket, I want them to think things like 'hard worker' and 'helpful.' This is how I want to make an impact. Not only showing them I'm representing FFA, but what FFA can do for them, my community and myself."

This quote was taken from one of the applications from last year's jacket program. There are many other students out there that could really benefit from wearing that same jacket who can't afford it or really deserve it. Whether it's confidence, leadership skills, networking skills, or career exploration, you can pass this on to other students. Please consider donating an FFA jacket to a deserving FFA member.

Donate now to the Blue Jackets Bright Futures program. For just $65 you can enable a FFA member to earn their own FFA jacket and a FFA tie/scarf. All donations received by September 20th will be awarded to a student just in time for their trip to National FFA Convention.

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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