Three Iowa FFA chapters were awarded bragging rights and cash prizes in the Pioneer brand A-Series Soybeans Big A Challenge. The winning chapters were recognized and their statues displayed prominently at the 2019 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.
Judges selected Mount Ayr FFA of Mount Ayr, Iowa, as the overall winner of the $2,500 top prize. North Tama FFA of Traer, Iowa, won $1,500 for second place and Wayne FFA of Corydon, Iowa, earned $1,000 for third place. The top three chapters were chosen from 15 finalist chapters in Iowa and Illinois.
Pioneer and FFA teamed up for the Big A Challenge, which highlighted the next generation of soybeans and the next generation of farmers. FFA chapters wrote essays and submitted designs to earn the opportunity to decorate one of the Big A statues. The 15 finalist chapters demonstrated their creative talents by each decorating a 7-foot-tall Big A statue showcasing the outstanding performance of A-Series soybeans while celebrating their local communities. Just as A-Series soybeans are bred using localized research and testing to fit many growing environments, FFA chapters used the Big A statues to illustrate what makes their local communities unique.
Pioneer also would like to congratulate the other 12 chapters that were finalists in the Big A Challenge:
- Atlantic FFA – Atlantic, Iowa
- Clay City FFA – Clay City, Illinois
- East Marshall FFA – LeGrand, Iowa
- Farmington FFA – Farmington, Illinois
- Maroa Forsyth FFA – Maroa, Illinois
- Massac County FFA – Metropolis, Illinois
- MMCRU FFA – Marcus, Iowa
- Mulberry Grove FFA – Mulberry Grove, Illinois
- Newell-Fonda FFA – Newell, Iowa
- Sibley-Ocheyedan FFA – Sibley, Iowa
- Stewardson-Strasburg FFA – Strasburg, Illinois
- Wilton FFA – Wilton, Iowa
The 15 Big A statues are displayed at the Farm Progress Show and all 15 chapters are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award. The public can vote online for their favorite Big A statue through Aug. 30. Voters need not attend the Farm Progress Show and can cast their vote at www.go.pioneer.com/VoteBigA. The chapter that wins the People’s Choice Award will be announced the week of Sept. 1 and will receive Pioneer branded items for its members. Look for #FFAseries on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
