National FFA Organization - Press Releases

National FFA Organization - Press Releases

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Jan. 28, 2013/National FFA Foundation) – FFA members in 15 states can now register for the 2013 FFA Chapter Challenge presented by Monsanto.

The 2013 FFA Chapter Challenge, a third-year program now available to more than 3,800 FFA chapters and 265,000 FFA members and sponsored by Monsanto, challenges FFA members to make meaningful connections with local agriculturists with a new twist.

FFA chapters will now compete in one of two contests with the FFA Chapter Challenge: option one requires FFA members to interview and document local agriculturists who then vote for a chapter, and option two requires FFA members build a portfolio of agriculturist and community member interviews, develop a social media plan and film a video promoting agricultural awareness. Two FFA chapters, one from each contest area, will win the grand prize to attend October’s 86th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky.

Before FFA chapters are eligible for the program, they must register at www.FFAChapterChallenge.com. FFA members in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin are eligible in 2013.

Other prizes will be awarded to each state’s top ten FFA chapters in either category for the FFA Chapter Challenge. Those prizes, a line of credit for use on FFA expenses such as supplies or national convention registration fees, range from $2,500 to $100. As a sponsor of the program, Monsanto will provide more than $300,000 in incentives.

“Monsanto is thrilled to partner again with the National FFA Foundation and support this year’s exciting new changes to the Chapter Challenge competition,” said Elizabeth Vancil, Monsanto customer advocacy outreach manager. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for local FFA chapters to not only learn from those within the agriculture community, but also to develop an outreach plan that will help champion agriculture’s message to those who are part of our broader community.”

“FFA and Monsanto are both delighted to bring the FFA Chapter Challenge in 2013,” said Rob Cooper, executive director of the National FFA Foundation. “This program encourages FFA members to better understand local agriculture, see a variety of potential careers and exhibit the great qualities of FFA members everywhere to the public.”