Today, Pioneer announced three FFA chapters have been chosen as finalists in the Pioneer brand A-Series Soybeans Big A Challenge. Each winning chapter will receive a cash prize and will have their decorated statues prominently displayed at the 2019 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.
Judges selected the Mount Ayr FFA (Mount Ayr, Iowa), North Tama FFA (Traer, Iowa), and Wayne FFA (Corydon, Iowa) chapters as the top three finalists from 15 participating FFA chapters in Iowa and Illinois. The Big A Challenge teamed Pioneer and FFA to focus on the next generation of soybean varieties and the next generation of farmers. The winners, to be announced on Aug. 28 at the Farm Progress Show, will receive $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third.
FFA chapters showed their creative talent by decorating a 7-foot-tall Big A statue highlighting A-Series soybeans’ game-changing performance while celebrating their communities. Just as Pioneer brand A-Series soybeans are bred using localized research and testing to fit many growing environments, FFA chapters used the Big A statues to showcase what makes their local communities unique.
Pioneer also would like to congratulate the other 12 chapters participating 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 will be displayed at the Farm Progress Show and all 15 FFA chapters are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award. The public will vote online for their favorite Big A statue from Aug. 26-30; voters do not need to be present at the Farm Progress Show to cast their vote. The winning FFA chapter will receive Pioneer branded items for its members. For a sneak peek at the decorated Big A statues, look for #FFAseries on Facebook and Twitter.
