ALBANY, Ohio — Every year the Athens County Farm Bureau hosts an ag field day. This year it was held on Sept. 19 at the Athens County fairgrounds and had a total of nine schools present. The purpose of the event was to raise ag awareness among fourth grade students. This year members from the Alexander FFA chapter assisted the Athens County Farm Bureau by facilitating six learning stations. The stations consisted of a small animal petting zoo and large petting zoo, soils, ice cream, engineering and a soybean/corn station. 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Tri Flo, Inc., of Archbold, Ohio, together with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading companies, participated in a program through the National FFA Foundation for an opportunity to have an FFA jacket awarded to Hannah Steele, a member of the Pettisville FFA, Pettisville, Ohio. 

Syngenta issued a challenge and made a generous offer to its retail partners: Contribute $2,500 to the National FFA Foundation and Syngenta will match it.  In recognition of each retailer’s contribution, a local FFA chapter that has been designated will receive an official FFA blue jacket and a $500 check for the chapter.

“Syngenta is proud to partner with many of our retailers in supporting the Blue Jacket program,” said Scott Desotel, Iowa district manager,  “This is an outstanding opportunity to help ensure the future of agriculture across the US while positively impacting local chapters and relationships with our leaders of tomorrow.”

“FFA prepares young people to lead, grow and achieve future success in more than 300 diverse careers through agricultural education”  said Dwight Armstrong, chief executive officer of the National FFA Organization.

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — Friday, Nov. 30 is the deadline to submit applications for the third Jersey Youth Academy.

Youth who will be juniors or seniors in high school in the fall of 2013 and current college students who will have at least one year remaining to complete their degree are eligible to apply. A total of 36 will be selected for the program scheduled for July 21 through 26, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio.

Applications are posted on the Academy website at http://academy.usjersey.com Selection will be based on an evaluation of merit, motivation and preparation for the program as reflected in the written application and goal statement.

Established in 2008, Jersey Youth Academy achieves three broad objectives: first, for the participants to learn why and how the Jersey breed has grown and prospered, and what the future holds for the Jersey business; second, for them to meet leaders from the Jersey community and from across the support industry, and to gain their unique insights about the dairy business with a specific focus on the Jersey cow; and third, to learn about the range of career opportunities that involve the Jersey breed and Jersey products, and begin the journey that will take them to success working in the Jersey dairy business.

All program and transportation costs are paid by the Academy’s 501(c)(3) educational foundation. Contributors to the foundation represent a broad spectrum of Jersey breeder and dairy industry support, with the largest contribution to date coming from the all-donation National Heifer Sale in June, 2011.

 An informational program on applying for Jersey Youth Academy is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. It will begin at 10 a.m. EST in West Hall room W-5. The program will be recorded and posted on the Academy website.