INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — During the early part of January, 75 FFA members visited South Africa for a 12-day educational and cultural experience.

 

Members participated in the 2017 International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO) as an annual, international opportunity through the National FFA Organization. The seminar allows FFA members to experience foreign culture, learn about international agriculture and become more knowledgeable on the global marketplace.

 

Past and present state FFA officers representing 20 states left the U.S. on Jan. 4. The group traveled throughout five of South Africa’s nine provinces while surveying the agricultural landscape.

 

FFA officers met with government and U.S. Embassy officials to learn about U.S. and South African trade relations; toured crop and livestock operations; met with business and industry leaders; and explored a private game reserve that is home to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo. The group also met with fruit exporters, olive oil producers and more.

 

On average, nine out of 10 students who participate in the program say they would be receptive to living and working abroad as a result of this experience, said Shane Jacques, education specialist with the National FFA Organization.

 

“Our hope is that through a structured experience like ILSSO, these students will see that study abroad opportunities or global internships and careers are not only attainable, but essential to providing a sustainable talent pipeline for agriculture and feeding the world.”

 

Students shared their experience from their trip on Twitter and Instagram. To see a recap of their adventures, visit https://pulse.ffa.org/index.php/2016/12/14/follow-ilsso17-to-south-africa/

 

 

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Fifteen students pursuing higher education in agriculture will be able to reach their goals a bit easier this fall. The GROWMARK Foundation is announ-cing a new, $1,500 scholarship program for students in the United States and Ontario, Canada, pursing two- or fouryear degrees or trade school certification in an agriculture-related field. Applicants must complete an online application that includes academic information, community service and leadership activities, and essay questions regarding agriculture and cooperatives. Applications will be judged by a panel of agribusiness professionals.

 

“Expansion of the scholarship program provides the opportunity for more students to benefit from our interest in financially supporting those who choose to pursue an agriculture-related field of study, and potentially be employed by GROWMARK, an FS cooperative, or at one of our subsidiaries in the future,” said Amy Bradford, GROWMARK Manager, Corporate Relations, and Manager of The GROWMARK Foundation.

 

High school seniors or students at any level of higher education may complete the application, which can be found at www.growmark.com/scholarship Applications are due midnight April 15, and recipients will be notified by July 1.

 

 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — When today’s youth stroll down grocery store aisles with their parents, labels on food and produce may elicit questions on health, safety or nutrition. With each generation further removed from agriculture, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) Discovering Farmland curriculum empowers students with essential knowledge to better understand how their food is grown and raised, and make informed decisions when in the grocery store.

 

The Discovering Farmland curriculum, which launched November 2015, uses the award-winning documentary FARMLAND, a film by James Moll as a foundation. It gives teachers and high school students a first-hand glimpse into agriculture through the eyes of six young farmers and ranchers, all while learning about food production’s connection to science, economics, technology and sustainability. Now available, the Digital Exploration and Interactive Lesson Plans build off the four free lesson plans and incorporate activities that bring excitement of the film and the agriculture industry directly into the classroom.

 

To access these resources that are available to all high school students across the country, visit www.discoveringfarmland.com

 

 

MONROEVILLE, Ind. — Heritage High School’s FFA chapter received a $500 donation from Brodbeck Seeds on Feb. 10. The donation stems from a drawing at the Brodbeck Seeds booth during the 2017 Fort Wayne Farm Show.

 

Drawing winner Randy Schlaundroff selected Heritage FFA to receive the donation. Schlaundroff and Brodbeck Seeds ProSeller Dan Meyer were at Heritage to help present the donation. The chapter plans to use the donation to offset costs for leadership conferences and to help educate children in Adams and Allen counties about agriculture.

 

Heritage FFA advisor Chris Hall explained that each year the chapter hosts 1,500 kindergarten students at a farm in Hoagland, Ind., for an agricultural tour. “We see the kindergarten tours as a ‘Farm to Fork’ event. The kids come from area schools and the FFA students teach them about agriculture in order to show them early on where their food comes from,” Hall said.

 

“It’s great to be affiliated with a company that understands that the students in these FFA chapters are the future of agriculture, and helping fund projects like their kindergarten tours helps these students become knowledgeable advocates for the industry,” Meyer said.