LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 24, 2015) — FFA has received the highest number of online votes to win the Farm Credit Mid-America 299 Ways to Say Thanks campaign. FFA competed against 4-H and the Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers program to win the $100,000 prize, which will be divided evenly between the four state FFA foundations in the Farm Credit association area of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The goal of the 299 Ways to Say Thanks campaign was to thank farmers, customers and community members for all they do to invest in and secure the future of agriculture and rural America by inviting them to help choose which of the three organizations should receive the special funding boost. Participants could cast their votes online for the organization of their choice from early November through December 31, 2014.
“The members, advisors and supporters of the Tennessee FFA are excited to have won the 299 Ways to Say Thanks online voting campaign,” said Chelsea Rose, executive director, Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc. “We are thankful to Farm Credit Mid-America and proud of the grassroots effort that led to this win. The special funding boost will provide professional development opportunities for our teachers, and support projects and programs of the Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc. in 2015."
“Farm Credit is thrilled with the great response to our 299 Ways to Say Thanks campaign, and we’re pleased that thousands of people took time to vote for the organization of their choice,” said Bill Johnson, president and chief executive officer, Farm Credit Mid-America. “We offer our congratulations to FFA, and look forward to continuing our close partnership with all three of these organizations that are so dedicated to preparing young people for careers in agriculture.”
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Nationally, there are 606,510 FFA members, aged 12-21. The Tennessee FFA Association has more than 13,000 members from 212 chapters across the state.
(Photo caption: (Left to right) Chelsea Rose, Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc. Executive Director; Bill Johnson, Farm Credit Mid-America President and CEO; Amy Morgan, Tennessee FFA State Treasurer; Meredith Sanders, Peyton Smith and Hannah Haw, White House FFA
members; Mark Wilson, Farm Credit Mid-America Area Vice President; David Lynn, Farm Credit Mid-America Senior Vice President for Financial Services and Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc. Sponsoring Committee member. Representatives of the Tennessee Future Farmers of America gathered in Louisville February 10 to accept $25,000 from Farm Credit Mid-America executives after winning an online voting competition among FFA, 4-H and Young Farmers & Ranchers members and supporters.)
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