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| Spotlight on Youth - July 6, 2011 |
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Michigan Soybean hosts YouTube contest for FFAers
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC) offered the Michigan FFA Chapters an exciting new challenge: to inform the public about Michigan’s soybean farmers and their dedication to produce soybeans for food, feed, fiber, and fuel. Michigan FFA Chapters created unique, educational, and entertaining videos containing the message, “Put a Little Soy in Your Life,” to promote on www.YouTube.com
The MSPC Board of Directors reviewed each video and selected the top three. Andy Welden, MSPC President and soybean farmer from Hillsdale County, enjoyed watching each of the videos. “I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the students. They succeeded at conveying the value of soybeans and the message ‘Put a Little Soy in Your Life,’” Andy expressed. “Since this was the first year, I hope these videos encourage more Michigan FFA chapters to enter in future soybean video contests,” he added.
The top three videos were produced by the Lenawee Tech Center AM FFA Chapter, the Breckenridge FFA Chapter, and the Saranac FFA Chapter. Now it’s your turn to vote online! How? Just check out these entertaining videos at www.michigansoybean.org Click on “FFA YouTube Contest” and view the videos! Be sure to share your favorite videos with your family and friends. Videos will be ranked by the amount of YouTube hits as of July 21, 2011 8 a.m. EST.
The first place video will earn the respective Michigan FFA Chapter $3,000; second place Michigan FFA Chapter receives $1,500; and third place Michigan FFA Chapter receives $650. The FFA Chapter winning placements will be announced during the 2011 MSU Ag Expo on July 21, 2011 at the MSPC booth in Tent A.
Monsanto, NAFB award ag scholarships to Hoosier youth
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — As the demand for food rises and natural resources decrease, a greater importance is placed on finding the best and brightest young minds willing to take on the challenge of feeding nearly nine billion people by 2050. Monsanto and the National Assoc. of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) announced winners of $150,000 in scholarships to 100 high school seniors in recognition of their academic achievements and leadership in agriculture. The scholarships will help students pursue careers in agriculture so they can carry on the proud tradition of American farming.
“We’re proud to continue this partnership with the NAFB to help develop our agricultural leaders of tomorrow,” said John Raines, vice president of customer advocacy, Monsanto. “We agree with farmers who have told us nothing is more important than the next generation, and we’re proud to be a supporter of the FFA for over 50 years.”
Since the National Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship program was first established in 1999, Monsanto and the NAFB have awarded more than $1.5 million to more than 1,000 students to fuel students’ interest in finding new solutions for the agriculture industry.
“Monsanto is truly committed to the support and advancement of the next generation of agricultural leaders. The members of our organization share in that desire to promote and enhance the agriculture industry, and we are pleased to once again partner with Monsanto in recognizing these outstanding young people,” said NAFB President-Elect Tom Steever, Brownfield Ag News.
Below are the 2011 Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship winners for Indiana: Kelsey Tuholski, La Porte; Nathan Buckmaster, Rossville; Frank Minich, La Porte; Allison Brinkman, Ferdinand; and Ellen Bernhard, Columbia City.
The Commitment to Ag Scholarship winners must have come from a farming family, plan to enroll as a full-time student in an agriculture-based program from an accredited school and commit to obtaining a career in agriculture. Applicants were evaluated on their academic records, leadership skills, extracurricular activities and personal essays.
“My dad, my grandpa and all my uncles are farmers. I have grown up in agriculture, and have seen the difficulties they have finding the perfect set of traits in seed corn and soybeans. This scholarship will boost me on my way to a career solving those problems and creating the perfect plant!” said Allison Brinkman of Ferdinand, Ind.
Students that apply for the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarships through the National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program benefit from Monsanto’s support of over $1 million to National FFA in 2011.
Red Brand’s ‘Home Grown’ initiative raises $100K for FFA
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After successfully raising more than $100,000 in the first year of a new grass-roots campaign that provided funds to local FFA chapters throughout the country, the nation’s leading fence manufacturer has announced its decision to make this campaign an annual event.
Early last year, Peoria, Ill.-based Keystone Steel and Wire Co., maker of Red Brand fence, launched its “Home Grown” initiative, a program to benefit FFA through its Red Brand agricultural fencing sales division. For every roll of Red Brand agricultural fencing purchased by a participating retailer, $1 is donated to a designated local FFA chapter or chapters of their choice.
In the first year, more than $100,000 was donated by Red Brand and distributed by dealers to 704 FFA chapters. On average, local FFA chapters received $400. An FFA chapter in Platte, S.D., was awarded more than $4,000.
The 2011 Home Grown program is currently under way. By stocking Red Brand agricultural fence products and supporting FFA with a $750 donation, gold-level Red Brand retailers are eligible to offer rebates of up to $200 per household on product purchases; gold-level retailers also receive an array of no-cost marketing tools they can utilize to spread the word about how the Home Grown initiative benefits FFA.
Blue-level retailers participating in the program receive a host of no-cost marketing materials to promote Home Grown.
“Red Brand is continuing the tradition of excellence that our partnership with FFA has built over the past 64 years,” said Doug Wright, vice president of sales and marketing at Keystone Steel & Wire. “Home Grown presents an opportunity to be involved at the local level and connect the community with FFA in a meaningful and lasting way.” |
| 7/6/2011 |
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