Dear Friends,

It is no understatement that 2020 was a year of adjustment. We are so grateful that you stood by FFA through it all.

National FFA is no stranger to change or adjustments. For more than 90 years, FFA has shifted its methods, altered its programming and made changes when necessary to meet the needs of the members we serve. Still, throughout this time, we have remained true to the FFA mission of making a positive difference in students’ lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The dedication and objective have never wavered; the difference is in the relevant ways in which we apply it.

For the first time in its history, the National FFA Convention & Expo was not an in-person gathering. When the pandemic persisted, we quickly made the difficult but necessary decision to virtually hold the convention and expo. Even so, we reached into the far corners of the U.S., with 217,415 registered attendees from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. National FFA Officers were elected virtually and announced live; official FFA delegate business, the American FFA Degree Awards and other events were handled over the internet.Teachers were required to alter their entire plans to teach from their homes. Parents and guardians and students had to turn their living rooms into home offices and classrooms. Individuals, organizations and businesses were forced to tighten budgets, rethink operations, and make tough decisions about the future.

All of us were impacted. In this annual report, you’ll see more instances where FFA was required to change course and, as a result, remained the top school-based youth leadership development organization in the country. It is with your support—our donors and sponsors—that we can continue this important journey together. With your help, FFA members gain a much larger community of support where a world of opportunities awaits them.

With your continued support, FFA is building a future for all.

8,000,000+ STRONG
With year-over-year membership growth in FFA, there are more than 8 million former members across the globe. More than 8 million vocal advocates, empowered leaders and authentic mentors skilled at thoughtful innovation, propelling us into the future. For this, we created the FFA Forever Blue Network, where former members, current supporters and businesses can connect online and engage professionally and socially.

Members

GROWING, ENGAGED MEMBERSHIP

Since 2010, FFA has seen a near 25 percent increase in membership, averaging nearly 16,000 new members annually for 10 straight years. And in that 10th year, when faced with a global pandemic, how does our community respond? With more than three times the previous convention registrants—more than 200,000 members, alumni and supporters safely tuning in from home—together.

GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY

FFA exists in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with 8,739 chapters that extend into 24 of the 25 largest cities all without losing its rural roots and heritage. From small towns and suburbs to bustling cities, FFA ensures agriculture is for everyone everywhere.

95.8% Reporting
BALANCED REPRESENTATION

For more than 50 years, FFA has worked to represent all voices in agriculture. Today, nearly half of reporting members identify as female bringing a powerful energy and balance to our community and to the industry as a whole.

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Slide State officers delivered, on average, 8-14 workshops, reaching 200-300 members each month. Slide More than 4,100 FFA members earned the highest FFA honor, an American FFA Degree. Slide In the first six months alone, national officers conducted 36 virtual workshops without missing a beat. Slide Earnings from the 1,260 Agricultural Proficiency Award applicants totaled more than $16 million. Slide National officers engaged in 145 virtual speaking opportunities and 26 keynotes by May 21, 2020. Slide State officers gave up to seven media interviews and conducted as many as seven advocacy visits in a given month.
CARGILL EMPOWERS
CHAPTERS TO STEP
IN AND SERVE
“WITH THE COVID-19 RELIEF FUND, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK with a local food distributor to bring in a food donation for our community.we were able to purchase some items to develop a well-rounded community food handout.”
Bill, FFA Advisor, Illinois

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for FFA chapters across the country in 2020. But thanks to the efforts of a long-time sponsor and their partnership with the National FFA Organization, hundreds of chapters found some relief from their financial burdens.

Cargill — a company that has supported National FFA for more than 60 years and has a commitment to respond to COVID-19 relief — recognized the stress and uncertainty those challenges placed on FFA chapters. They wanted to give back to agricultural communities and empower FFA chapters to be resilient during an unprecedented time.

As a result, Cargill contributed $500,000 to the FFA COVID-19 Chapter Assistance Program, which National FFA designed to provide chapters with an opportunity to receive up to $2,000 to help offset program revenue loss. Cargill’s support of the program helped provide funding to 265 chapters across 45 states.

“Cargill and FFA have been working together for yes, over 60 years, to inspire and educate future leaders in the food and agriculture industry,” said Rob Stewart, president, Cargill protein North America growth ventures and National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board member.

“We are so proud to support the work FFA is doing [to] ensure American agriculture continues to build vibrant communities; support families and rewarding careers; address global issues our industry is facing; and produce the food we need to feed a growing population.”

Chapters that received assistance used the funds to help cover items such as technology costs, chapter materials and leadership development resources — items that spring and summer fundraising efforts would usually cover. For example, many chapters that received funding typically count on annual plant sales — or something similar — to raise money for chapter activities and materials. But in 2020, many of those yearly events had to be canceled as many schools pivoted to e-learning.

Chapter members

Because of the chapter assistance program, FFA chapters sustained programs and resources in the fall as many students started to return to classrooms. Materials for shop projects, support for members in financial need,

and funding future trips to conferences and conventions were just a few things covered.

Beyond the COVID-19 Chapter Assistance Program, in 2020, Cargill announced an investment of $2.1 million to FFA over the next three years that began in 2019. The money is being used to support FFA and agriculture teachers in the classroom and help prepare students for college and career opportunities.

Resilience In an typical year, National FFA attracts more than 69,000 members and supporters to the annual National FFA Convention & Expo. By summer, FFA quickly pivoted to a virtual experience. Members and supporters rallied—with 217,415 registered attendees from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The 14 convention sessions were viewed by 75,000 live users, receiving 90,000 on-demand views—a testament to determination and strength. Advancement National FFA Alumni and Supporters launched the FFA Forever Blue Network, a professional development and social platform for former members, current supporters, and businesses to connect online at ForeverBlueNetwork.org. In its first year, it welcomed more than 2,000 registered users, of whom 69% indicated they would like to help mentor and volunteer within the organization. Agility State officers enthusiastically adapted and leveraged virtual opportunities, and National FFA hosted 376 state FFA officers from all 50 states and Puerto Rico in the first-ever virtual State Officer Summit at the end of July. Officers engaged in live-streamed group sessions, practiced virtual legislative visits and completed self-guided learning modules armed with knowledge and resources to share with and encourage their chapters and members. Spirit The FFA team seamlessly transitioned in-person National Ag Day efforts to virtual events. In March, the National Ag Day virtual programming and corresponding activities received the highest number of total impressions of all educator resources for the month with more than 1,000 impressions. Sustainability A sense of purpose continues through membership and into FFA Alumni and Supporters as they continue to model actions and generosity for members and chapters across the country. In 2020, 30 alumni chapters invested 9,570 hours serving their communities for a total equivalent of $243,365. In addition, FFA Alumni and Supporters also awarded 120 grants to support local chapters and state associations—setting an example and the stage for a successful year for many. Adaptability While COVID-19 grounded National FFA Officers from traveling to visit FFA chapters, state conventions, and sponsors and donors, officers quickly modeled resilience and creatively transitioned to deliver the FFA mission online for the remainder of the year. From virtual speaking opportunities and keynote speeches to online workshops and virtual sponsor visits, national officers pursued their goals energetically and flexibly, even leveraging social media to interact, engage, and energize membership. Purpose Each year, FFA participates in National Days of Service. In 2020, members and supporters got creative and sprung into action despite the challenges of the pandemic, with 340 participating chapters from 45 states and Puerto Rico. More than 8,000 youth volunteers contributed 24,321 service hours, resulting in an incredible $661,531 economic impact, not to mention new tools and service ideas for the future. Impact The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters who actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. To qualify, chapters must meet the national quality chapter standards and complete at least 15 activities, one for each of the five standards in each of three divisions. In 2020, 671 qualified for a National Chapter Award. Of those, 45 National Chapter Award finalists were selected and five winning chapters were recognized for their intense dedication, commitment and hard work during the year. PIVOT WITH PURPOSE. ADAPT WITH PASSION SEE OUR FINANCIALS
“My FFA story is unlike that of any other, and i know that you understand this is the way it should be. Together, we can craft future leaders and innovators with all different lifestyles and backgrounds with the support from those like you. Thank you.”
Brandon, FFA Member, New Mexico
LONG-TIME SUPPORTERS
SET UP AMBASSADORS
FOR SUCCESS

Herman Wilson knows first-hand the impact agriculture teachers can have on students—both in the classroom and well into their future careers. It’s been more than 60 years since Herman was a student himself, but he still remembers how his experiences in FFA set him up for success.

Now, Herman — along with his wife, Bobbie, a former teacher—are working to address a shortage of agricultural education teachers who serve as FFA advisors. Recruiting and retaining agriculture teachers is something the Wilsons have always been passionate about, but today they’re actively working to tackle the problem.

The Wilsons pledged $1 million to the National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA, a program designed to provide teacher training, peer mentoring and more to teachers on behalf of National FFA. The Wilsons have supported the National FFA Organization for the last 24 years.
“How to keep young teachers in the classroom is something that needs to be addressed as soon as they start their careers,” Herman said.

“I’ve always believed that this was a worthy cause. If we can help fund a program like this and the outcome is [that] more students can get the chance to be in FFA because there are more teacher[s] sticking around, that’s worth every penny.”

The National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA program began in 2016 with teachers whose experience ranged from one to more than 15 years. Because of the Wilson’s gift, FFA increased the number of ambassadors from 38 ambassadors in 2019-20 to 59 ambassadors in 2020-21.
“I’ve always been so impressed with the work ethic and dedication of the young people that make up FFA,” Bobbie said. “I will always remember my first time seeing a sea of blue jackets at national convention. We want to help give as many students as possible the chance to be part of such a great organization.”

The Wilsons—who live in Houston—have also provided significant support to Texas FFA teacher programs every year. The success of those programs, along with the National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA program, have inspired the Wilsons to provide support whenever and wherever they can.

“Agriculture teachers, and FFA in general, can be a shining light for students to follow to success,” Herman said. “If a student wants to get involved with FFA, they shouldn’t have to miss out on an opportunity like that because of lack of resources. We need to find dedicated teachers to fill these shortages and show them why it’s so important to stay.”

Service 30 FFA Alumni and Supporters chapters in 16 states logged 9,570 service hours—the equivalent of $243,365. Economic In 2019-20, FFA Alumni and Supporters alone made an economic impact of more than $420,000. Grants FFA Alumni and Supporters awarded 120 grants to 83 local chapters and 28 state associations in 2020. convention The National FFA Convention & Expo virtual platform hub saw 69,000 unique logins over the three-day convention. LTS In October, 340 chapters dedicated 24,321 hours of service through 8,014 volunteers. Sessions Over the three days, 14 convention sessions were viewed by 75,000 live users and had 90,000 on-demand views.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • From Jan. 3–15, 75 current and past state officers from 22 state associations departed for Spain and Portugal as part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO).

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • Thank you for your support on Give FFA Day! For the 24 hours of Feb. 25, 1.315 donors gave $219,354 to support FFA and agricultural education.
    • #FFANextGen Conference—a hands-on, industry-relevant experience for high school juniors and seniors—took place in Kansas City, Mo., and focused on the animal systems career pathway.
    • The 10,000th jacket was gifted through Give the Gift of Blue.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • FFA chapters stepped up to serve their communities and discovered new ways to connect, learn and celebrate despite a worldwide pandemic.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • The Washington Leadership Conference was canceled due to COVID-19. It was the first time in 50 years that the event was not held.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • FFA awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to 1,323 recipients, thanks to the generosity of 398 sponsors and donors.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • Due to the difficulties in holding in-person events during the pandemic, National FFA decided to offer individual experiences and challenges focused on career and leadership skills in place of all traditional national-level career and leadership development events previously scheduled at the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • After launching a new online network called the FFA Forever Blue Network in the spring, National FFA celebrated the newest FFA alumni members—the class of 2020—with a special virtual group on the network.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH

    Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

    • Three companies—PepsiCo, General Mills and Bob Evans Restaurants—announced partnerships with FFA to educate students on the importance of regenerative agriculture, support personal growth and promote the FFA programs that currently exist.
    • FFA membership hit a record high of 760,113—an increase of nearly 60,000 from the last year.
    • National FFA Alumni and Supporters member Justin Allgaier drove a No. 7 Camaro featuring FFA and Give the Gift of Blue that won the NASCAR Dover Doubleheader race.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • As part of giving back to the host city after the National FFA Convention & Expo was moved to an online event, National FFA announced a donation of $10,000 to the Indiana Hospitality Relief Fund through the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • The National FFA Convention & Expo was held virtually for the first time with a live broadcast by RFD-TV.
    • National FFA shared a new Agricultural Education for All roadmap. It outlines the strategies the organization is taking to support inclusion, diversity and equity to ensure the organization is a bully-free zone that reflects society’s demographics in membership, leadership and staff, and celebrates individuality.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • National FFA reported that more than 8,014 volunteers from 340 chapters across the country participated in the National Days of Service (from 45 states as well as Puerto Rico) during the convention the month prior.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • John Deere announced a donation of $1 million in 2020 to help support the National FFA mission.
    • The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., announced a multiyear commitment of more than $4 million as part of their ongoing support of FFA, teachers and agricultural education.
  • JAN
  • FEB
  • MARCH
  • APRIL
  • MAY
  • JUNE
  • JULY
  • AUG
  • SEPT
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  • NOV
  • DEC

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • From Jan. 3–15, 75 current and past state officers from 22 state associations departed for Spain and Portugal as part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO).

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • Thank you for your support on Give FFA Day! For the 24 hours of Feb. 25, 1.315 donors gave $219,354 to support FFA and agricultural education.
    • #FFANextGen Conference—a hands-on, industry-relevant experience for high school juniors and seniors—took place in Kansas City, Mo., and focused on the animal systems career pathway.
    • The 10,000th jacket was gifted through Give the Gift of Blue.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • FFA chapters stepped up to serve their communities and discovered new ways to connect, learn and celebrate despite a worldwide pandemic.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • The Washington Leadership Conference was canceled due to COVID-19. It was the first time in 50 years that the event was not held.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • FFA awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to 1,323 recipients, thanks to the generosity of 398 sponsors and donors.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • Due to the difficulties in holding in-person events during the pandemic, National FFA decided to offer individual experiences and challenges focused on career and leadership skills in place of all traditional national-level career and leadership development events previously scheduled at the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • After launching a new online network called the FFA Forever Blue Network in the spring, National FFA celebrated the newest FFA alumni members—the class of 2020—with a special virtual group on the network.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH

    Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

    • Three companies—PepsiCo, General Mills and Bob Evans Restaurants—announced partnerships with FFA to educate students on the importance of regenerative agriculture, support personal growth and promote the FFA programs that currently exist.
    • FFA membership hit a record high of 760,113—an increase of nearly 60,000 from the last year.
    • National FFA Alumni and Supporters member Justin Allgaier drove a No. 7 Camaro featuring FFA and Give the Gift of Blue that won the NASCAR Dover Doubleheader race.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • As part of giving back to the host city after the National FFA Convention & Expo was moved to an online event, National FFA announced a donation of $10,000 to the Indiana Hospitality Relief Fund through the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • The National FFA Convention & Expo was held virtually for the first time with a live broadcast by RFD-TV.
    • National FFA shared a new Agricultural Education for All roadmap. It outlines the strategies the organization is taking to support inclusion, diversity and equity to ensure the organization is a bully-free zone that reflects society’s demographics in membership, leadership and staff, and celebrates individuality.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • National FFA reported that more than 8,014 volunteers from 340 chapters across the country participated in the National Days of Service (from 45 states as well as Puerto Rico) during the convention the month prior.

  • A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH
    • John Deere announced a donation of $1 million in 2020 to help support the National FFA mission.
    • The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., announced a multiyear commitment of more than $4 million as part of their ongoing support of FFA, teachers and agricultural education.
  • JAN
  • FEB
  • MARCH
  • APRIL
  • MAY
  • JUNE
  • JULY
  • AUG
  • SEPT
  • OCT
  • NOV
  • DEC
JOHN DEERE FFA ALUMNI
AND SUPPORTERS
EXTEND REACH
“I memorized the five paragraphs of the FFA creed, and one of my favorite lines is ‘with a faith born not of words, but of deeds.’ To believe in the future of agriculture is to act on that belief. You have done just that. thank you for your generous support.”
Chloe, FFA Member, North Carolina

The John Deere FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter has always viewed Give FFA Day — the National FFA Foundation’s annual day of giving — as a way to kick off the year to come. Give FFA Day 2020 was especially meaningful for the chapter, with total giving up 50 percent in combination with hundreds of volunteer hours. Not long after the world came to a halt when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, it didn’t take long for the chapter to realize that 2020 would certainly look different for FFA members across the country.

“We knew it was going to be a tough time for students who typically look forward to so many in-person events throughout the year,” said John Arthur, chapter president and product line marketing manager at John Deere. “If there was going to be an opportunity for us to still mentor and support students in this new virtual world, we were going to find a way to do it.”

And indeed, they did, giving more than 700 volunteer hours through a variety of efforts, including assisting with virtual judging at career and leadership development events across the country.

In addition to donating time, the chapter also raised much-needed funds for National FFA and state FFA associations. In 2020, the chapter contributed more than $91,000—compared to just over $66,000 in the previous year. This impressive total included both individual donations as well as matches provided by the John Deere Foundation.

“I think that really speaks to the generosity of our chapter members,” Arthur said. “While we didn’t get to be face-to-face with students like we usually strive to do, we found ways to support them financially.”

The members who make up the John Deere FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter contribute to Give FFA Day individually. The chapter started in 2014 as a grassroots effort with 12 members and it has now grown to more than 300 members.

Girl in John Deere cap in field

Benjamin Zelle, product marketing manager for John Deere, said that while the company itself is quite big, what’s even bigger is the generosity of the people working behind the scenes.

“It’s been really rewarding for me to see how our leadership has contributed every year during Give FFA Day and how engaged our membership is,” Zelle said. “Our goal as members is to create as much energy and joy around the idea of giving because FFA is an organization that has had a huge impact on us.”

In addition to fundraising efforts, members saw the value in connecting with the students they were supporting. Brea Harms, division customer support manager for John Deere, helped link chapter members to different virtual events throughout the year.

She views the virtual opportunities as a blessing in disguise for the chapter.

“Our job is to find those opportunities and connect them to the right people,” Harms said. “That became especially true in 2020. We were able to connect people to opportunities across the country that, if they hadn’t been virtual, I’m not sure we would be able to participate. Our members had opportunities that truly broadened their horizons.”

The generosity of our sponsors and donors sustains FFA at the local, state and national levels. Charitable donations to the National FFA Foundation enable us to turn countless opportunities into numerous realities for our members, chapters and communities across the country. To our supporters on all levels, thank you for believing in the future of agriculture. Thank you for believing in National FFA.
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