The John Deere Foundation announced a three-year grant totaling $3.9 million to the National FFA Organization today.
The grants will provide students interested in exploring various agricultural career pathways and leadership opportunities access to resources and educational programs. Through this investment, Deere will continue its nearly 80 years of support for FFA.
“When John Deere looks at FFA the vision is clear: We see the future of agriculture. Within that vision, we also see the shared values of integrity and commitment and the understanding of the benefits agriculture provides to society,” John Deere wrote in a news release. “We’re confident FFA’s more than 945,000 members will develop the next generation of leaders who can meet the challenges of a growing world reliant on smart, sustainable agriculture.”
The John Deere Foundation’s multi-year, unrestricted giving will support the National FFA Organization’s vision of growing the next generation of leaders who will change the world.
“With shared values to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding, clothing, and fueling a growing global population, the John Deere Foundation supports the FFA mission to help the next generation rise up to tackle global challenges,” said Mara Downing, President, John Deere Foundation and Vice President, Global Brand, and Communications at John Deere. “The John Deere Foundation will continue to invest in organizations like FFA that create meaningful, measurable, and long-lasting impact on the lives of others and provide them with the resources to help them get there.”
“We are incredibly grateful for John Deere’s continued support and longstanding partnership,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer of the National FFA Organization. “By making an unrestricted, multi-year gift, John Deere is able to have the greatest impact on FFA members. This support truly helps us work toward our mission of preparing members for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.”
The donation announcement has come the same week that Cargill said it was giving $3.15 million to National FFA over a three-year span.
