Northeast Texas FFA'ers can join in RanchMart.com fundraising event
Top individual prize is a new Ford pickup; or cash goes to top team

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

February 20, 2003 -- With a desire to help FFA raise money for their chapters and to play a part in educating the members, RanchMart.com, an advertising Internet service, is implementing a 90-day fundraiser which will begin March1.

"The program contains an educational component that helps the chapter members to develop important life skills such as salesmanship, teamwork, personal responsiblity, etc.," said Jacob Levenson, RanchMart representative.

The fundraiser entails FFA members selling $15 packets to the online service. Individuals who purchase the packets will be allowed unlimited ads on ranchmart.com for 90 days. In return, if the FFA member qualifies by selling 30 packets, their name will be put into a drawing for a new 2003 Ford XLT pickup which will be given away at the 2003 state convention in July, Levenson said.

Another incentive, according to Levenson, is a team incentive. Each FFA chapter that participates in this fundraiser will be put in teams of 10. "If the team sells their 300 packets, the team's name will also go into a drawing for $10,000 with each team member receiving $1,000."

"The fundraiser is limited to Areas VI (Northeast Texas), VII (Southwest Texas), and IV(West Central/Rolling Plains) and will run into May 1," Levenson added.

The project is not limited to just FFA members, students who are taking ag classes will also be allowed to participate.

RanchMart.com representatives will begin contacting Area VI ag teachers beginning Feb. 18.

For more information about the fundraiser or the advertising service, visit www.RanchMart.com.