Purdue Women in Ag invites young women to conference

MUNCIE, Ind. — Purdue University extension is excited to invite young women (grades 8-12) to the 2018 Young Ladies of Agriculture event at the Midwest Women in Ag. Conference on Feb. 21, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Horizons Convention Center in Muncie.

This year’s theme is “Chase Your Passion, Find Your Purpose!” Katie Dilse will be the evening’s keynote speaker, and her goal for her presentation will be to encourage future women of agriculture by giving them “a bit of zest for their heart, food for their souls and permission to find success and impact in agriculture.”

Dilse is a former FFA member from North Dakota; if you would like to learn more about her, visit www.katiedilse.com

The event will also include a panel of women who are actively pursuing their passions in agriculture. There will be a scavenger hunt for some fabulous door prizes. The evening will conclude with dinner and presentations from Indiana FFA State Officers Claire Baney and Natalie Taylor.

Cost for the event is $10 per girl and registration is due by Feb. 14; each group may include one adult to attend for free. To learn more, email Kelly Heckaman at kheckaman@purdue.edu

Tractor Supply and FFA looking for FFA projects to fund

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Local FFA chapters in search of funding for their next animal science lab, community garden or other noteworthy agricultural project, take note. Tractor Supply Co. will launch its third annual Grants for Growing campaign, a competitive grant program designed to support local FFA chapters across the country that want to make a difference in their communities through sustainable agriculture-focused projects.

To qualify for a grant, FFA advisors must visit www.FFA.org/grantsforgrowing and submit an application by Feb. 14. The submission process requires entrants to provide a detailed proposal, including how they will start, maintain or expand on a project that will benefit their communities.

Grants, which are awarded to chapters in the spring, have a minimum value of $500 and a maximum value of $5,000. Since 2016, Grants for Growing has raised more than $1.4 million for the National FFA Organization, including a record-setting $731,000 in 2017. In total, the initiative has funded 692 grants supporting projects involving 69,134 students.

To support the program, Tractor Supply will host a 10-day in-store fundraising period from Feb. 16-25, which will give customers the opportunity to donate at checkout. All in-store donations will remain within the state they are donated. For more details about the program, visit www.FFA.org/grantsforgrowing

‘Thank You Farmers’ surpasses $1.7 million in donations

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. — With the global population expected to increase from 7.6 billion to 9.8 billion by 2050, the world needs to rise to the challenge of feeding 29 percent more people using the same amount of land and water we have today.

Those responsible for figuring out how to sustainably feed our growing population are likely currently sitting in classrooms, playing on playgrounds or yet to be born. That’s why Culver’s Thank You Farmers Project was created, to serve our growing population by supporting agricultural education programs that encourage smart farming.

In 2017, nearly 650 Culver’s restaurants in 24 states and the chain’s support center donated more than $400,000 to agricultural education initiatives in schools and organizations like National FFA, bringing Culver’s total Thank You Farmers donations to date to more than $1.7 million.

Of the total amount donated, approximately 75 percent has come from guests supporting local fundraising at Culver’s restaurants. The additional donated dollars come from Culver’s sponsorship and funding of initiatives that benefit the National FFA Organization and Foundation, which helps its more than 653,000 student members develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

“Whether it’s donating $1 on Scoops of Thanks Day, pledging support on our restaurant walls or dining with us on a fundraising day, every contribution, big or small, from our guests makes a difference,” said Jessie Kreke, Culver’s senior marketing manager.

In 2018, Culver’s will continue to fundraise for initiatives and organizations like FFA that work toward solutions for feeding our growing population.