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| SD FFA Foundation Email Newsletter ~ | ~ Volume 7, Issue 2 ~ | ~ August 2016 |
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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!
 Director’s Message:
School has either started or is just days away from starting up again ... where did the summer go? My youngest child is counting the days with excitement and anxiety until she begins 2nd 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. |
FFA member says "Thanks"!
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 270 jackets to members last year, and are hoping to do even more last year. It means so much for members to have their own corduroy jacket! 
Peter Rausch, Hoven FFA member says, “Thanks so much for sponsoring FFA jackets for members like me! It means so much that I get a jacket, because it means that I was worthy. Having my own jacket will allow me to better represent myself, my chapter, and all that FFA stands for. It makes me happy to know that a sponsor was generous and had a willing heart. Thanks again for the jacket!” 
In addition, Sydney Wood, Harrisburg FFA member says, “Having an FFA jackets given to me opened up so many doors. 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:
- September 1-5: SD State Fair, Huron - FFA/Ag Exhibit building and Ag Learning Center/Animal Nursery open to the public 9a.m. - 8p.m.
- September 15 - Chapter Service grant applications due, SD FFA Foundation
- September 20th - Blue Jackets Bright Futures FFA Jacket Program - student jacket applications due
FFA livestock shows at the State Fair:
Friday, Sept. 2
6:00pm – Market and Breeding Meat Goat show –4-H north show ring; Dairy Goat show 4-H south show ring
Saturday, Sept. 3
1:00 pm - Beef Show, OC Beef Barn
6:00 pm – Rabbit Show – Rabbit barn
Sunday, Sept. 4
9:30 am - Dairy Show, OC Dairy Barn
6:00 pm - Sheep Show, 4H Livestock Show Ring
Monday, Sept. 5
7:30 am - Swine Show, OC Swine Barn
4:00 pm - Round Robin, OC Beef Barn
$ for community Service projects!
The SD Department of Agriculture offers FFA chapters the opportunity to receive grants up to $750 for community projects. The purpose of the grant program is to provide a hands-on learning experience for students to beautify their communities. Applications are due annually Oct.31. Types of projects have included painting bleachers, repairing fence, building planters and flower pots, & putting on a farm safety class for younger students. The annual funding round begins soon and updated applications will be available online shortly. Funding awards are announced in November. For more information contact SDDA or call 605.773.4745. |
Check out the new SD FFA Ag Adventure Center!
Be sure to walk through the FFA Building at the State Fair. It has a whole new look!
 
 
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SD FFA Foundation Board Members Meet
July 31st, the SD FFA Foundation met for a day-long board meeting. This annual summer meeting sets the direction and goals for the 2016-17 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 2016-17 Board Members: Sandy Osterday, President; Dani Herring, Vice President; Jeff VanderWilt, Treasurer; Beth Mayrose, Secretary; Greg Janisch, Budget Committee chair; Brett Heezen, Sponsoring Committee chair, Terry Leonhardt, Lyle Anderson, Dan Tonak, Craig Ostebee, Jim Wilson, Wyatt DeJong, Ryon Berry, Noelle Swanson, Tom Wolf, Craig Dybedahl, Ellie Minihan, Jordanne Howe and Michelle Nelson.
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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. Northwestern and Aberdeen Roncalli were fortunate to find ag teachers to start 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 by:
- Encouraging young people to consider teaching as a rewarding profession
- Consider teaching yourself, as a career change with a dusty degree or through alternative certification
- Recruit 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!
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Zoetis supports SD FFA Chapters
51 South Dakota FFA chapters will receive checks in September totaling $58,000 from purchases made by South Dakota veterinarians and animal health suppliers of Zoetis products during their spring promotion period. To participate, local Zoetis Beef/Equine reps enrolled veterinary clinics and animal health suppliers in the program. Enrolled suppliers inform their Zoetis reps that the following chapters should receive funds.
Beresford
Bison
Bon Homme
Bowdle
Bridgewater-Emery
Brookings
Cheyenne Eagle Butte
Clark
Colman Egan
De Smet
Dells
Deubrook
Deuel
Faulkton
Flandreau
Florence
Gettysburg |
Groton
Harding County
Hot Springs
Howard
Huron
Hyde County
Kadoka
Kimball
Lemmon
Lyman
Mc Cook Central
Milbank
Miller
Mitchell
Newell
Philip Haakon
Platte-Geddes |
Rapid City
Sanborn Central
Scotland
Selby
Sioux Valley
Sisseton
Stanley County
Sturgis
Tri Valley
Tulare
Wall
Watertown
Waubay
Webster
Wessington Springs
Wilmot
Winner |
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 SD 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.
Thank you to our Team Ag Ed Star partners!
Distinguished Star Partner - Northland Ford Dealers
4 Star Partner - Monsanto
3 Star Partners - CHS Foundation & North Central Farmers Elevator
2 Star Partners - ADM Benson Quinn, 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 Supply; RDO Equipment (Aberdeen, Webster, Redfield, Sioux Falls, Rapid City); SD Corn Utilization Council; SD Farm Bureau; US Army/Army ROTC; WinField, Wilbur Ellis ,Zoetis; and C & B Operations, LLC (Gettysburg, Selby, Roscoe, Miller, Freeman, Yankton, Wagner, and Mitchell).
Check out our Star Partner website to learn more. |
 Remember 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, meeting new people in the FFA Animal Nursery, 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 Learning Center, or one of our livestock show. This year's SD State Fair is August 28 - September 1 in Huron. FFA has added meat and dairy goat shows for the first time, and we are looking forward to that addition. See our schedule above.
Thanks to all the sponsors that help make FFA livestock shows and awards, and the Ag Learning Center activities possible: Dakotaland Feeds, AT&T, CHS Foundation, RDO Equipment, Croplan by Winfield, 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; WinField; Zoetis; Butler Machinery, ADM-Benson Quinn, Hanson Associates; BASF; Wilbur Ellis, DeJong Ranch, Diamond V, Stangl Shorthorns, Genex - Dakota Sire Service, Midwest Ag Supply, Peterson Livestock, Scott Supply Co., Team Johnke, C & M Cattle, Wilson Sheep Company, Whetstone Commodities, 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, and Wirt Farms. |
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, 18 SD students received $1500 scholarships in 2016, and the program will continue in 2017.
Click here for more details. |
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. |
Featured Fundraiser
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. 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. |
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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For more information, please contact gerri@sdffafoundation.org. or call (605) 765-4865
© 2016 South Dakota FFA Foundation,
Inc.
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