Tractor Supply supports FFA and N.C. students
Tractor Supply Company has launched its eighth annual National FFA Organization (FFA) t-shirt fundraiser.
For a limited time, customers can purchase special-edition FFA t-shirts to support the organization and its ongoing commitment to the future of agriculture exclusively at Tractor Supply stores nationwide and online.
Campaign proceeds will be distributed to FFA chapters across the country, funding agricultural programs and activities for students and alumni in support of the National FFA Convention & Expo.
The FFA Convention is one of the world’s largest for students, intended to celebrate the growth and achievement of FFA members and more. This year’s Convention will be held Oct. 26-29 in Indianapolis.
“The National FFA Convention & Expo is celebrating its 95th annual event, and we are very proud to help celebrate with our exclusive Tractor Supply T-shirt,” said Kimberley Gardiner, chief marketing officer of Tractor Supply. “This year’s T-shirt fundraiser will support FFA members and chapters in need and fund an FFA program working to resurface a lost history of agriculture in the U.S.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will support four FFA programs: Living to Serve, Alumni Legacy Grants, New Farmers of America Archives, and Give the Gift of Blue.
The Tractor Supply Foundation surprised a group of FFA students from East Wake High School in Wendell, N.C., with funds to support their trip to the FFA Convention, after learning the students in the chapter might not meet their fundraising goals to attend.
Advisors recently brought the students to their local Tractor Supply store in Knightdale, N.C. for a tour and career talk. What the students did not know was the District Manager, Chris Redmon, and the Store Manager, Mike Slocum, were not only sharing some career tips, but also surprise news that they were going to the FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October with new duffle bags and hats.
“The Tractor Supply Foundation is committed to serving our local communities when they need support,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, manager of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation. “We are thrilled to provide these students with an inspiring opportunity to learn and the FFA Convention gives them that.”
Living to Serve Grants provide an opportunity for FFA chapters and state FFA associations and foundations to seek funding to support various types of service projects through a competitive application process. Applicants must identify a community needs within one of four focus areas: community safety; hunger, health, and nutrition; environmental responsibility; or community engagement.
The Alumni Legacy Grants program helps area high schools build or strengthen their alumni chapters. FFA Alumni Legacy Grants can be used to create an FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter, improve the quality of existing chapters or provide more opportunities for partnership between FFA chapters and alumni and supporters chapters.
New Farmers of America Archives is resurfacing the rich history of African American boys studying vocational agriculture and contributing to American agriculture. The archives focus on recapturing a lost culture for decades after the merger between New Farmers of America (NFA) and FFA took place.
Launched in 2014, Give the Gift of Blue began providing funding for FFA members who might not be able to afford their own jacket to receive a free jacket from FFA. As of 2022, the Give the Gift of Blue program has given away over 14,000 jackets.
Tractor Supply launched the FFA tshirt fundraiser in 2015, raising almost $2 million with shirt sales for FFA programs since its inception. Tractor Supply proudly supports FFA and its mission through multiple annual fundraising events, such as Grants for Growing and many activities at the local level.
For more information on the fundraiser and Tractor Supply’s support of FFA, visit TractorSupply.com/FFA.