Feb. 23, 2006 - When FFA was officially founded as the Future Farmers of America in 1928, the original 33 founding members may not have realized what they were on to. Since then, millions of youth across America have proudly worn the blue and gold FFA attire, and went on to become supreme agriculturalists, world leaders, and innovators. 

These former FFA members maximized their learning experience through the organization, and were able to do so because of the overwhelming interest and support the organization had accumulated.

Today, in Texas (the state with the largest FFA membership), more than 61,000 members are taking advantage of what FFA and its supporters are offering. Many of the educational events, banquets, conventions, and field trips offered to FFA members are only possible because of sponsors who offer their time and donations to help FFA members expand their horizons.

The Texas FFA Foundation, a non-profit corporation founded in 1987, is responsible for generating support for FFA funding and donations. According to Aaron Alejandro, the executive director, the money and time donated by sponsors has become essential to the success of the Texas FFA.

“Like most non-profit, tax-exempt organizations, without support from individual donors, corporations, or organizations, we would have a difficult time accomplishing the mission of improving Texas young people, agriculture, and leadership,” he said. “Therefore, we would venture to say that sponsor support is essential.”

Jason Wilcox is the FFA advisor to more than 100 members of the Rusk FFA in Cherokee County. According to Wilcox, at the local level, every type and size of support and donation have a large impact. 

“We participate in nearly all aspects of the agriculture field and the FFA organization,” said Wilcox of his chapter’s activities. “When doing this, it costs a large amount of money to be able to participate and be involved in these activities.”

Even in the small town of Rusk, the needs of the FFA chapter have not gone unnoticed. 

“The Rusk FFA has numerous sponsors and donors, from large to small, for various activities,” he said. “These donations range from money, to material for shop projects, to equipment to be used.”

In fact, Rusk FFA has been very fortunate. In the last year a dry wall company (Bannister Dry-Wall) donated a load of lumber for an FFA project; Nucor Steel in Grapeland donated more than $3,000 worth of metal;  and Bob Frances Ford also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a senior Rusk FFA member.

“For the past two years we have had our banquets sponsored,” said Wilcox. In addition to large donations, Wilcox said many smaller donations from a variety of sources help to keep his FFA chapter up and running. “Our donations range from $2 to $500 in most cases.”

By now, Wilcox has come to understand why his local FFA chapter seldom has to do without. “All of the sponsors and donors that the Rusk FFA comes in contact with are touched by what they see these students doing and achieving.”

From the local chapter, to the state level, FFA is no stranger to a rally of support. Alejandro said even at a state level, the FFA Foundation has a great relationship with its sponsors. “We value our sponsors and work hard to make sure we are attentive to their requests for information, opportunities to volunteer, and coordinating with them when assisting us in telling the positive story of the Texas FFA.”

The supporters of the Texas FFA Foundation range in sizes. The first level is the foundation’s Star Partners Program. In this pairing, both the sponsor and FFA are able to utilize one another’s resources and cross promote. The second, the Convention Partners Program provides the FFA sponsor with an opportunity to sponsor the annual Texas FFA Convention. These sponsors are widely publicized and become well-known for their association with the Texas FFA. The Scholarship Program is made of sponsors who donate to help aid Texas FFA members in continuing their educational experience. In addition, the Texas FFA Foundation also has several corporate sponsors listed on their website.

Alejandro said each sponsor is chosen differently based on the needs of the FFA and that sponsor. “Sponsorships are solicited in conjunction with special projects in which we are looking for funds to accomplish the mission of the project,” he explained. And regardless of the project, Alejandro said the Foundation has a variety of resources available to them.

He said the sponsors realize how important their sponsorships are, not only for the FFA members, but the sponsoring company or group. 

“We believe there are three important reasons to support the Texas FFA through a sponsorship opportunity or individual gift,” said Alejandro.  “We are a great philanthropic venture. The Texas Agricultural Education/ Texas FFA family of organizations provides a great marketplace for sponsors to be recognized. The Texas FFA provides a great source of human capital. Sponsors are exposed to some of the finest young leaders in our state. These young people represent a marketplace grounded in traditional values of respect, responsibility, and resolution - traits employers can draw from for years to come.”

Like most sponsorships, the FFA Foundation and its sponsors have a give-and-take relationship, but the clear winners are the FFA members scattered throughout the state. 

“These students are touched by these donors and sponsors,” said Wilcox. “To know that someone thinks enough about what they are doing to support them. It is caring people that make our chapter and the Texas FFA the largest and most prestigious youth organization in the nation.”

Alejandro hopes to keep things that way. 

“Sponsor support is the life-blood that gives us the tools to carry out the mission of Texas FFA programming,” he said. “Currently we are working to create and endowed Texas FFA program. Therefore, donor and sponsor support helps ensure a strong program today while investing in its strength in perpetuity.”