A Big Promise to
Future Generations
A Big Promise to
Future Generations
“I don’t plan to kick off for the next couple weeks, so it’s kind of hard to know exactly what the need will be,” says Lyle Orwig. He’s referring to an FFA program he and his wife, Karma, will fund one day—far beyond their lifespans.
Lyle’s dry wit lends levity to a topic that could otherwise make for a delicate discussion. But for this pragmatic couple, talk of posthumous giving remains top of mind, since they recently decided to include National FFA in their estate plans.
As Lyle says, they don’t know the particulars of the program their gift will create, because it could be many, many years before their endowment becomes available. But there’s satisfaction in their choosing where their money will go and how it will be distributed. For example, the Orwigs intend to allocate half their funds to finance international travel for ag teachers.
“FFA is where I got my start as a journalist in high school, as the chapter reporter and ultimately as state reporter in Illinois,” he says. “What I learned as a Greenhand reporter, I still use in my profession today. So it’s payback time.”
Lyle was a Clifton Central FFA member in Illinois and served as state president in 1968-69.
As Lyle says, they don’t know the particulars of the program their gift will create, because it could be many, many years before their endowment becomes available. But there’s satisfaction in their choosing where their money will go and how it will be distributed. For example, the Orwigs intend to allocate half their funds to finance international travel for ag teachers.
“FFA is where I got my start as a journalist in high school, as the chapter reporter and ultimately as state reporter in Illinois,” he says. “What I learned as a Greenhand reporter, I still use in my profession today. So it’s payback time.”
Lyle was a Clifton Central FFA member in Illinois and served as state president in 1968-69.
Lyle is chairman and founding partner of Charltson|Orwig, a Wisconsin-based strategic marketing and communications firm focused on clients throughout the food and agricultural industries—from farm to table.
With so many organizations vying for financial support, how does one choose? Lyle says his money is on FFA for the work experience it provides.
Many other service organizations are simply one-time experiences, whereas with FFA, you’re going to do something for nine months, or four years, or forever — gaining lifelong skills. To experience multiple, different conferences and programs and participate in activities as part of an SAE — those are going to stay with a kid throughout their life… you’re not going to learn all that in one visit to a national park.”
Karma says of her husband, “I don’t think he’s missed one FFA convention in all these years. We’ve always given to FFA, even if it’s only to the local high school chapter. We participate in small ways always.”
And now in big ways always.
“FFA is a longstanding organization
that fosters such wonderful values,
work ethics, sense of COMMUNITY
and mentoring for the kids coming
along—in rural areas and in cities.
Fewer and fewer places offer that
kind of thorough training,
BUT IT’S NECESSARY.”
— Karma Orwig
A lifetime of little experiences.
When Lyle was a Clifton Central FFA member in Illinois, he participated in the former FFA Work Experience Abroad program, which landed him a summer job in England on a dairy farm.
“That contributed to my understanding of how important agriculture is across the world, not just in the U.S.,” he says. “[With the endowment] I wanted to create something that would allow a group of ag teachers each year to experience the agriculture in other countries, so that they can come back and encourage their students to think globally.”
A lifetime of little experiences.
When Lyle was a Clifton Central FFA member in Illinois, he participated in the former FFA Work Experience Abroad program, which landed him a summer job in England on a dairy farm.
“That contributed to my understanding of how important agriculture is across the world, not just in the U.S.,” he says. “[With the endowment] I wanted to create something that would allow a group of ag teachers each year to experience the agriculture in other countries, so that they can come back and encourage their students to think globally.”
“FFA is a longstanding organization
that fosters such wonderful values,
work ethics, sense of COMMUNITY
and mentoring for the kids coming
along—in rural areas and in cities.
Fewer and fewer places offer that
kind of thorough training,
BUT IT’S NECESSARY.”
— Karma Orwig
Karma attended high school in a rural community and participated in 4-H as a teen. But being married for 45 years to a former FFA member (who now serves on the National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees), she’s attended her fair share of FFA events and industry-related functions, and has met numerous National FFA Officers over time — all of which weighed in on her decision for their planned gift.