By Andi Anderson
At the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo, the Taylorville FFA chapter in Illinois received the prestigious title of 2023 Premier Chapter: Strengthening Agriculture. This recognition celebrates their outstanding efforts in advancing agriculture and enhancing the lives of their members.
One remarkable initiative undertaken by the Taylorville FFA chapter was the creation of the "My Mentor" program. Recognizing the need for adult role models, the chapter designed and executed this program. They collaborated with their alumni and community supporters, involving 137 FFA members and 38 volunteer leaders. The program aimed to provide valuable life skills to students, including relationship-building, job interviewing, and career development.
The National Chapter Award program acknowledges chapters that actively embrace FFA's mission and strategies. These chapters excel in their operations by adhering to the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and engaging in activities that focus on leadership development, community building, and strengthening agriculture.
National FFA recognizes top chapters in three categories: growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. To compete for the premier chapter awards, chapters must earn three-star ratings during the judging process. This year, ten FFA chapters vied for the prestigious honor.
The National Chapter Award program is proudly sponsored by John Deere, highlighting the importance of agricultural education and youth leadership development.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based youth leadership development program, encompassing over 945,000 student members in 9,163 local FFA chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It plays a significant role in shaping the future of agriculture and fostering leadership among the youth.
Photo Credit: national-ffa
Categories: Illinois, Business