South Dakota FFA Foundation provides funds to assist local FFA chapters

The TC Energy Foundation provided $2,000 to the South Dakota FFA Foundation to assist local SD FFA chapters in need.

Agriculture Education programs serve communities across South Dakota. Many FFA chapters raise funds for every educational program they conduct and trips they take, as well as service-learning projects they perform in their communities.

Unusual circumstances in recent years have prevented many chapters from carrying out fundraising, to support valuable continuing educational activities for ag ed students, as well as fund needed local community service and development projects.

Chapters are short of funds, and this grant provided much-needed assistance in meeting that need. FFA chapters completed a grant application process through the SD FFA Foundation.

The following FFA chapters will each receive up to a $500 grant thanks to the TC Energy Foundation to assist in meeting their needs: Highmore, Andes, Lennox, Kadoka, and Lemmon.

“The importance of a safe, abundant food supply is more important than ever," said Gerri Ann Eide, SD FFA Foundation executive director. "The ag industry is growing and the need to educate our future workforce is critical for the future."

The SD FFA Foundation supports the interests of FFA members; creating awareness of agriculture careers, agri-business opportunities and the needs of a growing and diversified industry. They financially support leadership development for 8,000 SD agriculture education students; support activities of 102 SD FFA Chapters and members; and reward FFA members and chapters for their successes. 

"Providing modern technologies and updated curriculum for our agriculture education programs is sometimes beyond local school district budgets. We are so thankful the TC Energy Foundation recognizes the need to help local agriculture education programs and FFA chapters meet these needs,” Eide said.