Welcome to #FFAChat News
Our goal is to provide you with an overview of upcoming opportunities through the Minnesota FFA and our partners. We have numerous opportunities quickly approaching! If you have events, internships, contests or other information to share, please email it to minnesotaffa@gmail.com.
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| Leadership Development Opportunities |
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Agricultural Policy Experience (APEx)
The FFA Agricultural Policy Experience will encourage and challenge students to push past their current knowledge of agricultural issues and policy and become a more informed and active leader in their schools and communities. Attendees will be paired with an agricultural policy mentor during the conference and will also have the opportunity to meet with legislators from across the state.
Register by February 1 at: https://form.jotform.com/80046531384150
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Habits to Own Leadership Conference
This one day conference takes students through creating ripples of leadership in their personal lives. Attendees will learn how to develop action plans for their own lives from every angle in order to create an influence. The focus for this conference will be on building teams through relationship building.
Learn more at: https://goo.gl/Lak7Nx
Register now at: https://goo.gl/forms/tOFGLgP97YX2ZVsm2.
Registration due March 9. Cost is $25.
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| Additional Member Opportunities |
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State Officer Nominating Committee applicants needed to select the 2018-2019 State Officer team! Applicants cannot have a member from their chapter applying for state office. Apply now at: https://form.jotform.com/MNFFA/2018SONomCom. Due February 1.
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Region Officer applications are due throughout the state.
"Running for Region Office is a great opportunity to interact with members and give back to your region"
- Martha Moenning, 2017-2018 Region Officer
"Region office has shown me the value of time management and helped me properly allot my time so I can do what I want and what I need to do. Being that I am in FFA, have a job, and am a three-sport athlete I have to really manage my time in order to meet all my commitments."
- Cole Fox, 2017-2018 Region Officer
Contact your advisor for more details but due dates and application links for each region are below.
Region I: due February 2 - Apply Now!
Region II: due January 31 - Contact your advisor to apply!
Region III: due February 1 - Apply Now!
Region IV: due January 30 - Apply Now!
Region V: due February 7 - Apply Now!
Region VI: due February 8 - Apply Now!
Region VII: due February 2 - Apply Now!
Region VIII: due January 31 - Contact your advisor to apply!
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Apply now to serve as a 2018-2019 Minnesota State FFA Officer! Applications are due March 1 and available at: http://www.mnffa.org/Applications/StateOfficerApplication.aspx
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Save the Date: InTENSE 2018 will be July 16-20. More information will be available soon!
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Save the Date:
February 1: State Officer Nominating Committee Application due
March 1: State Officer Application due; National Chapter Award due
March 15: State Band and Chorus Applications due
March 16: Habits to Own Conference and State Officer Nominating Committee training
April 1: Land of Service and Ag. Literacy Submissions due
April 15: National Officer Candidate Letter of Intent due
April 22-24: Minnesota FFA Convention in St. Paul/Minneapolis
June 11-15: State Greenhand Leadership Conference
June 18-20: POWER Conference for Region Officers
June 24-26 and 27-29: State Leadership Conference for Chapter Leaders
July 16-20: InTENSE Conference
July 30: Minnesota State Fair Training for Barnyard Attendants and Ambassadors for Leadership
Check out mnffa.org for more details!
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| State Convention Opportunities |
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Foundation Ambassador Application due March 1
The purpose of the ambassador program is to provide a leadership program to Minnesota FFA members which will allow opportunities during State FFA Convention to interact and connect with FFA supporters, donors and potential sponsors. The program, in turn, gives industry representatives and donors the opportunity to interact with FFA members and to learn more about the FFA program and its mission.
Prospective ambassadors must complete an application by March 1. Each chapter may submit up to two ambassador applications. Applications will be judged and ambassadors will be announced by April 1. Judging will be based on FFA activities, advisor’s recommendation and the student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
Ambassadors must attend the mandatory training on the Sunday of convention on St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. They will assist with events throughout convention. **If you're competing on Monday, this program is not conducive to your schedule.
Students can learn more and apply at-
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Applications for the State Chorus during State FFA Convention are available and due March 1. Apply Now!
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Applications for the State Band during State FFA Convention are available and due March 1. Apply Now!
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Spring Semester-Long Living to Serve Grant
Middle and high school FFA chapters may apply for up to $1,200 to support semester-long service-learning projects that meet community needs in one of four focus areas: Community Safety; Hunger, Health and Nutrition; Environmental Responsibility and Community Engagement. To access the application, in English or Spanish, visit www.ffa.org/livingtoserve/grants. Applications are due February 1, 2018.
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$400 Day of Service Mini-Grant Available
Day of Service Mini-Grants are available to middle school, high school and alumni chapters to make a difference in your community in one of four focus areas: Community Safety; Hunger, Health and Nutrition; Environmental Responsibility and Community Engagement. Please note: For Day of Service Mini-Grants, when you should apply is determined by the date of your service event. Requirements for event dates have been updated. To learn more and see a full list of the Day of Service Mini-Grant dates, visit the Living to Serve Grants website at www.ffa.org/livingtoserve/grants.
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Apply Now: Grants for Growing
The successful Grants for Growing Chapter Grant Program is back, thanks to Tractor Supply Company (TSC). Advisors can complete a grant application on FFA.org now until Feb. 14. Eligibility is based on how the grant money will be used plus volunteer hours and promotional activities during the fundraising period. This is a competitive grant process; any volunteer hours or promotional activities during the fundraising period do not guarantee an award. The fundraising period in 2018 will be Feb. 16-25, incorporating National FFA Week, and includes paper emblems sold at TSC checkouts. Every dollar raised in a state stays in that state, and 10 percent of all funds raised go to the state FFA foundation. Last year, TSC and its customers raised $731,345 to award more than 300 FFA chapter and 48 state FFA foundation grants. Visit FFA.org/GrantsForGrowing for more information.
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American Egg Board Launches FFA Chapter ContestThe American Egg Board kicked off its second Incredible! FFA Chapter Contest. The contest encourages FFA members to nominate their local chapters and the incredible work they’re doing for a chance to win one of three grants worth up to $2,000. Entries can be submitted via an online submission form with a description of what makes the nominated chapter incredible and how the grant funds would be used to impact the chapter. Submissions will be accepted until 11 p.m. ET on Feb. 15. For more information and official contest rules, visit AEB.org/FFA.
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Fastenal Manufacturing will again sponsor the Design Welding Table contest. Blueprints are attached. Please follow the blueprint, instructions, and review the rubric for details on the table.
Grand Prize table receives a Lincoln MIG Welder! See the flyer for a picture. Last year’s contestants received a welding helmet, welding gloves, and a cooling towel.
Milwaukee Tool will sponsor the Adirondack Chair contest. Blue prints are attached. Please follow the blueprint and instructions for the chair and foot rest.
Grand Prize Adirondack Chair and Foot Rest will receive a Milwaukee Tool ¼ Driver with charger. Top 10 Contestants will receive a Milwaukee 16’ tape measure.
These projects must be registered on line through the Minnesota State Fair Competitive Events FFA activities. Registration will open on or around May 1.
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National FFA Scholarship Application
Applicants must have an ffa.org account and will apply online. Applications are due February 1 with signature sheets postmarked by Feb 8 – but you should start applications early.
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James W. Tracy Scholarship due February 1
The James W. Tracy Scholarship is for seniors who meet the following criteria-
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Must be enrolled or plan to be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary school in the U.S.
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Must plan to pursue an academic award (certificate, diploma or degree) in agriculture or animal husbandry
Applications for this $1000 scholarship are due February 1: http://www.mnffafoundation.org/James-W-Tracy-Scholarship and 17 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded!
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Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation Team Intern
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation is announcing a 2018 Foundation Internship Position in the Eagan, Minnesota office. The internship is for May – August, 2018 (80 hours each month) Work Schedules to be determined. The intern will be supervised by the Director of the Foundation. See the full description.
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A Minnesota Farmers Union Camp Counselor is responsible for planning, leading, and implementing core and non-core programs and experiences for children in a small and large group settings. They will also be responsible for the general safety and development, growth, and skill achievement of the participants in his/her group. The counselor will provide high quality outdoor educational and recreational experiences for participants that focus on the MFU core values of cooperation, leadership, respect and responsibility. See the full description.
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Internships at National FFA
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| Collegiate Member Opportunities |
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