Supporting the Missouri FFA Foundation helps cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders and ensures that Missouri’s agricultural industry remains vibrant and strong. Here are ten compelling reasons to donate to the Missouri FFA Foundation:
1. Investing in Future Leaders
The Missouri FFA Foundation provides the resources to help almost 27,000 Missouri FFA members to participate in statewide leadership workshops and activities. By supporting the foundation, you are investing in the development of young people who are the future leaders in agriculture, business, education, and other sectors.
2. Supporting
Teacher Recruitment and Retention
The Missouri FFA Foundation provides funding for the Missouri Teach Ag teacher recruitment program, the New Teacher Induction Program, technical training institutes, and professional development workshops. If an ag teacher made a difference in your life, a donation to the foundation is one way you can show your appreciation while ensuring Missouri continues to have top quality agriculture teachers.
3. Advancing
Agricultural Innovation
The Missouri FFA Foundation supports programs that foster innovation in the agriculture industry through local classroom grants. Last year, the foundation provided funding to schools for the labs and equipment needed for numerous in-demand agriculture skills, including an aquaculture/hydroponics program, a certified remote pilot/drone operator program, a modern agriculture mechanics lab, an industry level food sciences lab, and GIS programs to name a few. By making a gift to the foundation, you ensure agriculture keeps moving forward.
4. Creating
Networking Opportunities
FFA provides students with a network of peers, mentors, and professionals in agriculture and related fields. The Foundation supports these networking opportunities, which can be critical for career success. If you’ve benefited from the network you built through FFA, this is your chance to provide similar opportunities to current students.
5. Recognizing
Excellence
Missouri FFA Members and advisors work hard to master skills and achieve success. We acknowledge success by offering awards and scholarships for students through Proficiency Awards and competitive Career & Leadership Development Events. For teachers, we fund multiple awards, including the nationally recognized Golden Owl Award program. When contributing to the foundation, you help build an environment that fosters learning, mastering, and demonstrating skills.
6. Strengthening
Communities
Agriculture is fundamental to many of the local communities in our state. Local FFA Chapters are the heart of FFA and crucial to agriculture in many of our communities. By supporting our local FFA chapters, members, and advisors, we are investing in communities throughout our state. In 2024, the foundation allocated more than $800,000 in grants and scholarships at the local level. This year, approximately 65% of the foundation’s budget is earmarked for grants and scholarships for local members, agriculture teachers, and agriculture education programs. When you donate to the foundation, we can leverage your gift with other supporters to continue making large investments in our local members, teachers, and chapters.
7. Proven
Quality
Year over year, Missouri has the most American Degree recipients of any state. Obtaining the American Degree requires FFA members to go above and beyond with their supervised agricultural experience, and in demonstrating outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement. This achievement is a testament to the promise for the future Missouri FFA members show. You truly are investing in the future when you support the Missouri FFA Foundation.
8. Growing
Confidence through Experience
Missouri FFA provides training, support, and practical
leadership experience to more than 2,000 local, area, and state officers. With
almost 100 years of history providing leadership training and experience for
FFA members, Missouri FFA grows the leaders our state and country need. Your
contribution to the foundation makes it possible for young leaders to receive
those opportunities.
9. Investing
in Student Entrepreneurship.
The Missouri FFA Foundation awards grants to students to start or expand their Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects. This is a worthy investment as our students reported earnings of $69.8 Million in SAE income in 2024. You promote real-world learning and student entrepreneurship when you support the Missouri FFA Foundation.
10. Promoting
Statewide Agriculture and Advocacy
Agriculture is a vital part of Missouri’s economy. The
Missouri FFA Foundation not only contributes to students obtaining hands-on
experience in the industry but by supporting programs such as HYMAX and HYPE,
we are training students to be better advocates for agriculture. You can
strengthen agriculture awareness and advocacy when you donate to the Missouri
FFA Foundation.
Save the date — Give FFA Day will be the 24 hours of Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.
Come back soon! It all goes live at 11 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 19. In the meantime: learn more on our FAQ page, use the social media toolkit to spread the word and sign up for a text alert on Give FFA Day. Contact us at GiveFFADay@ffa.org with questions.