Investing in Ag’s Future FFA shapes lives and careers for these CHS employees. By Patricia Miller T CHS Hosts National Teach Ag Event To celebrate National Teach Ag Day on Sept. 25, CHS hosted an event for nearly 100 ag educators from 13 states. More than 4,000 participants from 48 states joined the conference via webcast, while close to 500,000 people followed the program through Twitter. A highlight of the day was the announcement of CHS Foundation’s $1.5 million grant to the National FFA Foundation. Membership in FFA today stands at an all-time high of 610,240 students, up from 579,678 students in 2013. The number of local FFA chapters throughout the country has grown to 7,665. SEE MORE Watch a video of Jason Schwantz at chsinc.com/c. oday’s FFA advisors and ag instructors do more — much more — than teach students how to identify weeds and grow corn. They regularly step outside their formal job descriptions to teach skills that shape lives. Here are examples of how FFA advisors infl uenced four CHS employees. Travis Thomas, sales manager for Five Star Cooperative, New Hampton, Iowa, recalls his FFA advisor teaching his then all-male FFA chapter to tie a necktie. “It was a skill he said we’d use all our lives. But it was more than that. His interest kept a lot of kids involved and in school.” When Liz Collins, a seed sales specialist with Northern Partners, Mendota, Ill., was growing up in rural Illinois, she was the only FFA member in her high school. Yet, the FFA advisor from a neighboring school district took Liz under her wing and helped her achieve state, profi ciency and American degrees. Now the CHS vice president for refi ned fuels, Western operations, Jason Schwantz credits FFA with teaching him business acumen and instilling how to conduct business with integrity, honesty and trust. Bronya Renfrow relies every day on the public-speaking skills she learned and polished in FFA, calling on customers as a feed sales specialist for CHS Central Montana Co-op, Lewistown, Mont. “There were so many opportunities to improve my abilities and push myself out of my comfort zone.” Because of countless stories like these, the CHS Foundation recently invested $1.5 million in the National FFA Foundation. The grant will ensure the organization can continue to make a diff erence in students’ lives by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through ag education. The National FFA Foundation will channel the grant into several programs designed to promote, support and develop ag education: • National Teach Ag Campaign. This program raises awareness about the need to recruit more ag teachers, retain current teachers and encourage others to consider careers in ag education. The campaign celebrates the contributions teachers play in their schools and communities, which bolster the strength and viability of FFA chapters. • Curriculum for Agriscience Education (CASE) Natural Resources and Ecology. CASE is a rigorous, comprehensive program of ag science instruction designed to deliver science-based curriculum for students interested in careers in food, fi ber and natural resources. Topics focus on sustainable and responsible management of resources, including soil, water and plants. • Profi ciency Awards. In its long history of supporting the National FFA Foundation, CHS has helped fund profi ciency awards for agricultural processing, diversifi ed crop production, environmental science and natural resources management. Funding also supports career development events, the Agriculture Career Network and the International Collegiate Agriculture Leadership Program. “The generous commitment CHS has made to the National FFA Foundation is an investment that aligns with CHS eff orts toward sustainable business models and underscores the urgency of workforce development, and ag literacy and advocacy,” says Maggie Stith, senior regional director, National FFA Foundation. “The foundation’s support will help build a bright, driven workforce with a solid understanding of food, fi ber and natural resources.” CHSINC.COM 16 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
Issue Articles
Investing in Ag’s Future
Patricia Miller
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