FFA Alumni and Supporters Honor Top Chapters and States

National FFA Alumni and Supporters doled out its chapter- and state-level FFA awards to selected organizations on Thursday afternoon as part of the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo.

The Outstanding FFA Alumni Chapter Awards are judged on chapters’ work in the areas of: business operation, alumni and supporter member development, advocacy for agricultural education, agricultural education in program development, and student development.

The National FFA Alumni and Supporters Outstanding State Association Award is judged on a state’s efforts and support in the areas of local chapter development, FFA Alumni member development, advocacy, Team Ag Ed and business operations.

“We are incredibly proud of this year’s award winners and the remarkable impact they continue to make in their communities,” said Allie Tucek, National FFA Director of Alumni and Supporters. “Each of these honorees represents the very best of our alumni network, demonstrating leadership, service, and a lifelong commitment to advancing National FFA and supporting the next generation of students.”

Outstanding Corporate FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: Syngenta FFA Alumni and Supporters, N.C. (Southern Region)

The Syngenta FFA Alumni and Supporters Corporate Chapter has successfully integrated five new leadership members and established a structured progression pathway for leadership roles. Key goals during FFA Week included launching three Give FFA Day programs, hosting a companywide National FFA Week Town Hall, and challenging employee giving efforts. These goals were met, which featured highlights of past contributions and a donation drawing of $1,000 to the employees’ FFA chapter of their choice. In June, Syngenta hosted four teachers for a summer externship, focusing on the importance of agricultural education. The chapter had numerous FFA activities conducted, impacting over 5,000 FFA members and totaling more than 1,000 volunteer hours. Notable events included judging at various FFA competitions and a site tour for FFA students. The Syngenta FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter has played a significant role in nurturing the future of FFA.

Outstanding Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: Northeast Mississippi Community College FFA Alumni and Supporters, Miss. (Southern Region)

The Northeast Mississippi Community College FFA Alumni and Supporters exceeded their goal by 40% with new members for the membership year. The chapter held a petting zoo on the campus to help bring awareness to agriculture, FFA, joining the collegiate chapter, and agricultural literacy. This popular event brought in over 200 people and helped students feel less stressed before midterms. The chapter supported local FFA chapters by hosting contests to prepare them for speaking competitions, impacting over 200 students in developing their professional skills. The chapter also hosted a livestock judging clinic to offer training and hands-on judging experiences for 4-H and FFA members from the state of Mississippi. A total of 64 participants attended the clinic, raising over $1,000 to provide this experience at no cost for the attendees.

Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: Franklin Community FFA Alumni and Supporters, Ind. (Eastern Region)

The Franklin Community FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter serves as a model for business operations, alumni and supporter member development, advocacy, student development, agricultural education, and FFA program development. The chapter identified the need to fundraise and campaign for a hands-on learning lab on the high school campus. To address this need, they organized a committee to establish goals, strategies, and fundraising targets. Through donor and grant outreach, community events, and campaigns, the chapter compiled the final total of about $400,000 raised. Approximately 15 to 20 FFA alumni members, students, and agricultural advisors actively participated in this project, and collectively volunteered upwards of 200 hours. Additionally, the chapter provided qualified CDE (Career Development Events) and LDE (Leadership Development Events) coaches throughout the school year for FFA students. The chapter recruited nine volunteers who volunteered over 300 hours of their time to mentor, train, and prepare our FFA students for their competitive events.

Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters State Association Award: Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters, Minn. (Central Region)

The Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters hosts an annual conference that includes workshops for professional development and a business meeting, resulting in a 21 percent increase in new chapters and an 86 percent chapter renewal rate. They also offer the President’s Circle Leadership Program, which helps members enhance skills in mentoring and teamwork, with 145 participants completing it. A partnership with the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council focuses on improving agricultural education through strategic planning and legislative support. Board members engage actively in agricultural education boards, contributing to planning with over 4,800 volunteer hours. Annual assessments involving stakeholders help evaluate progress and restructure efforts under Evolve, Empower, and Engage. Fundraising events, like the Stop ‘N’ Shop at the Minnesota FFA Convention, raised $1,800 in just four days with the help of 12 volunteers.