Founding and Supporting Partners
Founding and Supporting Partners Make the Difference
Five outstanding companies have contributed to the LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education as Founding Partners, and one company as a Supporting Partner.
John Deere, Monsanto, the National Pork Board, Chevrolet and Cargill have donated $500,000 each toward creating and expanding LifeKnowledge and promoting its use around the country in agricultural education classrooms. Merial, as a Supporting Partner, has donated $250,000.
Our Founding Partners
John Deere
“John Deere is a Founding Partner of the LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education because we believe in the value of creating learning opportunities for young people that combine the experiential teachings of agricultural education and FFA with proven concepts of leadership development. The combination of these creates a unique curriculum that will prepare young people to contribute to business and society.
“Clearly the young people who progress through the curriculum will be, as potential future employees, more skilled in the attributes important to business. Our need for employees that can work in groups, adapt to very different circumstances and provide leadership will be significant. In addition, these same skills that provide value to John Deere will provide equal, if not more, value to any endeavor in which they embark. Ultimately, society will be better off with well-prepared and more capable young people.”
– Doug DeVries, Senior Vice President, Agricultural Marketing - North America, Australia & Asia, John Deere
Monsanto
"Combining academics and LifeKnowledge materials is a win-win for us all. All agricultural science education students have the opportunity to become prepared to solve problems, think critically and have a variety of experiences not realized in other classrooms across the country. Because Monsanto is exclusively dedicated to agriculture and its related sciences, we have a deep commitment to the development and education of our agricultural leaders. LifeKnowledge is one more way that we can contribute to the long-term prosperity of American Agriculture."
-Glenn Stith, Vice President of Branded Business, Monsanto
National Pork Board
"As the pork industry changes, it is increasingly important that America's pork producers partner with other agriculture organizations to develop future leadership. Since FFA has been a developer of leaders in the agriculture industry for more than 78 years, it is a great fit for the National Pork Board to sponsor the LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education."
-Hugh Dorminy, Past President, National Pork Board
Chevrolet
"Chevrolet has supported the National FFA for more than 60 years. Our objective has always been to assist the FFA members to achieve premier leadership, personal growth and career success. Our commitment to the LifeKnowledge initiative will help members become better citizens both personally and professionally. It's a great feeling to know that your company had a hand in modeling our country's future"
-Ed Peper, General Manager, Chevrolet
Cargill
"Cargill is proud to be a Founding Partner of LifeKnowledge. We see LifeKnowledge as a unique vehicle to bring training and tools to equip our youth with the leadership skills that are necessary for the future: critical thinking, creativity and a sense of strong ethics."
Our Supporting Partner
Merial
“LifeKnowledge is yet another innovation from the National FFA Organization that is helping students better prepare for their futures so they can help the agricultural industry as a whole.”
Merial feels that education is a building block for company success.
“The LifeKnowledge program is changing the way students are being prepared for their futures, whether it is in animal health or any other agricultural industry. LifeKnowledge is ensuring that the future generation of agriculture will take the industry to new heights.”
-Mike Eade, Executive Director, Large Animal & Equine.
The Commitment of Our Partners
The LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education would not be possible without the support of our LifeKnowledge Partners. In addition to their substantial monetary contributions, these companies have provided countless hours of guidance and professional expertise. Their monetary and intellectual investments are invaluable!
The future success of the LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education can be assured through the development of additional LifeKnowledge program extensions, services and collateral materials.
Additional Support is Critical to the Future
The National FFA Organization is seeking individual and corporate sponsors to fund additional development costs. Much like an endowment, this fully-functioning LifeKnowledge Center will have a diverse product portfolio and revenue sources to ensure its future success. The demand from states, schools, businesses and communities for programs delivering measurable personal growth, character, leadership and workplace skills will continue to grow larger in a more complex and global world.
Supporting agricultural education and FFA is a win-win for everyone. Advancing education and agricultural literacy, developing leadership for agriculture and preparing our youth are just a few examples of how supporters of FFA and LifeKnowledge are helping our future.
Learn More About Becoming a LifeKnowledge Sponsor
If you would like more information about becoming a sponsor of the LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education contact us today.
Our Founding Partners
Our Supporting Partner
The LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education is made possible through the generous support of our Founding and Supporting Partners as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
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