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FFA Foundation Awards 99 Jackets at 99th Annual NYS
FFA Convention
Published: May 16, 2024 at
07:45 a.m.
By: Press Release from New York FFA Leadership
Training Foundation, Inc.
99 JACKETS AWARDED AT 99TH NYS FFA CONVENTION
Croghan, NY- The opening
session of the NYS FFA Convention held in Buffalo, NY was called to order
at 7 PM on Thursday May 2, 2024. More than 2,000 members and guests were
present for an action-filled session recognizing
award winners,
competition results, keynote addresses, and so much more. The highlight,
however, was the gifting of 99 new personalized jackets to FFA members who
applied for the special award.
A special project
of the NY FFA Foundation, and supported by many generous donors, the Jacket
Award has become one of the many highlights of a convention geared to
celebrate success and achievement in the FFA. FFA members who have never
owned their own jacket started applying for the special award back in
January.
A committee of
the current state officer team awarded the jackets to the recipients on
Thursday evening. Each winner walked across the stage, shared their name
and chapter, and then the group collectively put on their jackets and
zipped them up with pride.
Todd Lighthall,
Executive Director of the NY FFA Leadership Training Foundation, shared
that projects like this are only possible when people open their generous hearts
to providing support of the program. Over 80 donors stepped up to the plate
offering to purchase 1 or more jackets to the cause. All were invited to
include a special message to the new owners of the jackets inside the
jacket pocket.
Additionally, a
very special partner of the NY FFA, Farm Credit East, purchased all the neckwear,
either a scarf or tie, to make the member’s official dress ensemble complete.
Farm Credit East has been a partner of NY FFA and Ag Education for a long
time, and many of their employees are alumni of the organization.
Members from 52
chapters across the state earned jackets. Additionally, the newly chartered
Cambridge FFA Chapter was also gifted a starter set of 10
chapter jackets.
The blue corduroy
jacket with gold embroidery has been a part of the rich history of the
National FFA Organization since 1933.
When asked what
having a jacket with his own name on it meant, Joseph Waite, of the Beaver
River FFA in Lewis County shared the following: “Having my name embroidered
on my new jacket makes me feel proud. I am excited to participate in all
the experiences FFA has to offer with my name on the front of my jacket and
my chapter on the back.”
The New York FFA
Foundation plans to continue this tradition as we approach our 100th anniversary
convention in May of 2025 and beyond. To learn more about this project and
other work of the NY FFA Leadership Training Foundation, Inc. check out our
website at http://www.nyffafoundation.org/
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The New York FFA Leadership
Training Foundation, Inc. is a 501©3 charitable organization whose mission
reads, to coordinate sustainable long-term funding to prepare FFA members
for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural
education. We accomplish this by offering engagement opportunities to our
alumni, donors, and sponsors throughout the year. If you would like to
learn more about the New York FFA Foundation http://www.nyffafoundation.org or
contact: Todd Lighthall, Executive Director, NY FFA Leadership Training
Foundation, Inc., 9340 Long Pond Road, Croghan, NY 13327
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