|
November 2012 Grow!!!! To those of us who possess an inborn fondness for agricultural life, we know and appreciate what it takes to grow our basic daily needs. The food, fiber, and fuel the world needs to prosper rests squarely on the shoulders of agriculturalists. We are also depended upon to sow the seeds of knowledge and awareness. With an ever increasing number of consumers further removed from the source of their food, growing an agriculturally literate society is among our greatest challenges. To that end the New York FFA is doing its part by preparing thousands of youth across our state to be the next agricultural leaders, business owners, teachers, labor force, and spokespersons for our industry. The preparation of youth for careers in agriculture is a great and inspiring task, which is made easier when our FFA Alumni and friends make financial contributions to support the New York FFA. Just as our crops will not grow and prosper without proper inputs, our youth also require investments to optimize their preparation to be involved in agriculture. More than 85% of the money raised by the New York FFA Foundation goes back to the FFA chapters and members to support their development. Your support matters and speaks volumes about what traditions are important to you. Many of our great traditions in New York, including agricultural education, continue to be threatened by the economic condition of our federal, state, and local budgets. Our stakeholders; parents, FFA alumni, small business owners, agricultural industry leaders, among many others, are the key pillars we rely on to engage youth in agricultural and career success. In the past 12 months our members have been afforded opportunities based solely on the generosity of over 250 individual and business donors. The highlights include:
Will you help us GROW our NY FFA Members by making a financial contribution today? It has never been easier to show your support. You can make your contribution on line at www.nyffafoundation.org , or you can simply print the form below and mail your contribution to our office. The time to show your support for agricultural education and the NY FFA is now. Please stand with those who believe the FFA is the greatest youth organization in the world and make your contribution today! Thank you for your support, Todd Lighthall
 The New York FFA Foundation, located at the Oswegatchie Educational Center in Croghan, NY has doubled down on their duck related efforts. Oswegatchie has held a rubber duck race for the past 18 years. Now with the success of that program, a new opportunity has started. In 2011, Oswegatchie had maxed out its “AdironDuck Race” sales and needed to increase flock size. In their efforts to have a new 10,000 duck flock created, they discovered the option to have a “100% Made in America” Duck created. While a cheaper duck was purchased for racing, the Foundation that owns Oswegatchie decided that the “Made in America” duck might be a good fundraiser. Partnering with a company called “CelebriDucks”, the organizations set out to have 100% of this duck made domestically. Everything from design, packaging, modeling, and manufacture was done inside our nation’s borders. The end product is a superior duck made with safe non-lead, non-phthalate, and BPA free vinyl product. “This is the duck you want your child to have in the bath tub,” says Jim Cooke, a retired engineer from the Bayer Corporation that helped with the due diligence process in finding new ducks. The New York FFA Foundation has received two flocks from CelebriDucks. The first batch had blue wings and only 100 of these prototypes were made. After some adjustments, the second flock of 1,000 ducks has arrived and has been on sale since October 15th, 2012. “The duck retails for $20, which is expensive compared to most other ducks manufactured overseas, but this duck is 100% American, meaning the cost of production was higher” says Todd Lighthall, the Executive Director of the New York FFA Foundation. All profits from this duck will be used to support New York FFA members who are learning about agricultural and leadership. These teens will be agriculture’s most valuable resource!” If you are interested in learning more about the “FFA Duck” go to www.nyffafoundation.org . To learn more about the AdironDuck Race held in Croghan every April, go to www.adironduckrace.com . To buy Ducks as individuals or by the case, Click on this Link! For more information, contact us at [email protected] !             The Oswegatchie FFA Camp has been a vital part of the New York FFA experience since 1946. Creating an opportunity for FFA members to get away from home, school, and the farm to "recreate" who they are has been an important developmental milestone for countless teens. The chance to socialize with new people has also be powerfully important. Originally, this was to get kids of the farm, but within the 21st century, socializing in person has become increasingly important.
Now a days there seems to be plenty of ways for youth to earn their way to camp. Some schools have grants or fundraisers. Some students have parents with more means. Certain FFA chapters use reward systems to help youth pay their way to camp. However, there are always those FFA members in-between the proverbial "rock and hard place'. If you are interested in helping a student get to camp, follow this link "Send a Kid to Camp", and read the synopsis. In short, you can earmark a donation for summer camp, where you want it to go, and any other criteria you require. If you want to do a partial sponsorship, the opportunity is there as well. We thank you for any contributions made. It is with your assistance that the New York FFA Foundation can do its est work, Investing in tomorrow's youth! For Immediate Release: New York FFA Raises $16,500 in Tractor Restoration Program Syracuse NY- March 15, 2012- On Friday February 24, the New York FFA drew a winning ticket for a fully restored 1946 Ford 2N Tractor. The winner of the tractor was Kerry Bell of Fort Ann, NY. The FFA raised $16,500 to support agricultural education and state level FFA leadership programs. . The 1946 Ford 2N was donated to the New York FFA by retired agricultural teacher Bob Robinson. The tractor was originally purchased by Bob’s father, Don Robinson who was also an agricultural teacher. The tractor was fully restored by members of the Pioneer FFA Chapter in Yorkshire, NY and then turned over to the New York FFA. Ticket sales were kicked off at the Empire Farm Days and concluded during the FFA Alumni Toy Auction held during the New York Farm Show on Friday February 24. Tickets were sold across the state by members of the New York FFA and countless supporters. The Ford 2N is the fifth such restoration and raffle conducted by the FFA since 2003. Former restorations have included two Ford 8N’s, an Allis Chalmers WD, and John Deer BR. With the conclusion of the Ford 2N raffle, just shy of $75,000 has been raised to support the New York FFA. Todd Lighthall, Exec Dir of the NY FFA Foundation shares that the value of this program is much greater than the monetary benefit. “The tractor restoration program not only provides an opportunity to raise much needed funds, it also provides a meaningful project to students enrolled in high school agricultural mechanics. Students, guided by their advisors and community volunteers do the work; from tear down, to parts research, to seeing the project through to completion. It is truly a win/win for all involved.” And the project has a future. Currently the FFA has three tractors being restored for future raffles. These include an Allis Chalmers by Southern Cayuga FFA, an American Fordson by Morrisville State College, and a Ford Ferguson by the Tully FFA. All eight tractors have been donated to the FFA. The nex raffle is slated to kick off at the Empire Farm Days this summer. If you have a tractor that you want to contribute to this program, contact Todd Lighthall at 315-346-1222. The New York FFA would like to recognize the following businesses and individuals who went the extra mile to promote and implement this event. Bob Robinson and Family, the Pioneer FFA Chapter, Jon Clayson, Marty Krause, Marylou Genaway, Larry Romance & Sons, Conroy Motors, Tim Havens - Falls Farm & Garden, Atticus Communications, and the New York Farm Bureau and its many members who supported this raffle 
On February 24th, 2012, at the New York Farm Show. The NY FFA Foundation finished our most recent tractor fundraiser. We have many people to thank, starting with the family of retired agricultural educator Bob Robinson who donated this tractor. Thanks to the Pioneer FFA for their renovation efforts and to Jon Clayson who was instrumental in the transportation of this tractor throughout New York. Tim Haven from Falls Farm & Garden Equipment Company donated transportation to the winner. We would also like to thank the New York FFA Alumni for allowing us to announce the winner at their annual Toy Auction. Thank you to all involved. This grassroots efforts will be felt throughout the New York FFA community for years. Click here to see our Tractor Fundraiser page.  |
The New York FFA Foundation The NYSFFALTF, Inc., chartered in 1946 by the New York State Board of Regents, is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that provides businesses, associations, other foundations, and individuals the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our New York youth. Our mission is to build and maintain a financial base that will allow the New York FFA to generate well-educated and career focused productive citizens. Email our Director at [email protected] . Archives
February 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|
The NYSFFALTF, Inc., chartered in 1946 by the New York State Board of Regents, is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that provides businesses, associations, other foundations, and individuals the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our New York youth. Our mission is to build and maintain a financial base that will allow the New York FFA to generate well-educated and career focused productive citizens.
New York FFA Foundation 9340 Long Pond Road Croghan, NY 13327 |