South Dakota FFA Foundation, Inc. Newsletter

SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 7, Issue 6 ~ | ~ December 2016

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:

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 had over 4400 FFA members, added three new AgEd and FFA programs, welcomed a new FFA Executive Secretary, held the first annual Winter Teacher Development Conference, started our first capital campaign and reinvented 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 2017-18 school year. Planning has begun for the 2017 FFA State Convention, the capital, 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.

Sadie Sadie Vander Wal, Northwestern Area FFA member is the daughter of a past FFA member from Volga, who as a Junior finally gets to experience FFA for herself, “Finally having an FFA chapter is an indescribably feeling, and receiving my very own jacket is something I have wanted since I was a little girl. Putting my jacket on for the first time was an amazing feeling. It has opened so many opportunities for me as it represents my pride in agriculture and the great joy I have that I can finally participate in all FFA has to offer. Thank you!”

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 and new members get jackets. 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:

December 20 - FFA Family of the year Nominations due
January 6-7 – Winter Professional Ag Teacher Development - Brookings
January 11– State FFA Degrees due in District 2,6,&7
January 15 - Honorary State Degree and Distinguished Service nominations due, Brookings
January 17 – State Degree applications due to State level, Brookings
January 18-19 - District Officer Training, Pierre
January 19 - FFA Legislative Breakfast and Foundation meeting, Pierre
January 19 – FFA Executive Committee meeting, Pierre
February 1 – Star applications due, Brookings
February 8 – Proficiency applications due
February 10-11th - Career & Technical Student Organization Legislative Days - Pierre
Feb 13th – State FFA & WLC scholarship applications due, Brookings
February 16 - Proficiency Judging, Brookings, SD
February 18-25 - National FFA Week
March 3 – Redfield CDE
March 7 – Watertown CDE
March 14 - Platte Geddes CDE
March 21 - Miller CDE
March 24, 11 – 3 pm, Science Fair, Mitchell, SD
March 27th - Tri-Valley CDE
April 5th – Bowdle CDE
April 23-25 – State FFA Convention, Brookings
July 30 – Aug 2 – SDAAE Conference, Brookings

State Leadership CDE’s

Congratulations to the nearly 500 students who participated in State Leadership CDEs Dec. 4-5th in Pierre. Click here to check out the winners. Katy Lantz, Winner FFA Sophomore says, “FFA has brought me out of my shell and helped me be confident that I can do things well. Being in Jr. Parliamentary Procedure gave me confidence and enabled me to meet others and be comfortable around new people.” 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.

Thanks Banquet

SD Department of Ag assists 4 FFA chapters with Community Projects

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture announced that 4 FFA chapters have been awarded Building Our South Dakota Rural Communities grants totaling $4750. These grants are available annually to 4-H Clubs, FFA Chapters, and Family Career and Community Leaders of America Chapters to use for community service projects in their communities, and must be matched by local $ being spent. Congratulations to the following FFA chapters for being selected: Lyman, Milbank, Rutland and Wessington-Wolsey.

mistletoe

Star Partners connect one-on-one with FFA members

This year's State Leadership CDE's provided members career exploration opportunities with an interactive Career Carnival featuring our SD FFA Star Partners. Thanks to Butler, North Central Farmers Elevator, RDO Equipment, CHS, East River Electric, Producers Hybrids, SD Wheat Growers, Zoetis, Winfield United, and Wilbur Ellis for providing interactive displays for FFA members to ask questions, explore future career opportunities, make contacts, and learn about SD ag businesses. There were also workshops on leadership development made possible by Star Partner funds.

Career Carnival

Featured Fundraiser

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 continuing renovations on the SD FFA Ag Adventure Center at the state fair. We have poured concrete, added sanitation stations, created a new look, and are working to showcase modern agriculture practices with hands on learning for all ages.

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