Arlington, VA (Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025) –Today, the Aerospace Industries Association’s (AIA) American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocketry competition, announced a new partnership with the National FFA Organization. The National FFA Organization’s partnership with the American Rocketry Challenge will broaden the competition, expanding FFA members’ awareness and interest in aerospace and STEM.

“The American Rocketry Challenge has inspired and empowered students, many of whom will become the engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers of tomorrow,” said Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO. “Similarly, FFA engages their members who aspire to be our future scientists, teachers, doctors, and farmers. With the endorsement of FFA, we’re expanding our mission to reach even more young innovators, opening new doors for them to tackle real-world challenges and develop cutting-edge solutions across aerospace, agriculture, and beyond.”
“We know our FFA members are the next generation of innovators and creators – that’s why we are so excited to partner with the American Rocketry Challenge,” said Christine White, Chief Program Officer for the National FFA Organization. “This partnership will allow new doors to be opened to them through hands-on aerospace education.”
The National FFA Organization’s endorsement of the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) marks a powerful step in expanding access to hands-on aerospace education for students across the country. ARC offers a yearlong opportunity for students to design, build, test, and launch model rockets that meet rigorous engineering standards—fostering leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills along the way. By partnering with FFA, the program will reach even more students, including those with agricultural backgrounds, and introduce them to the exciting possibilities of aerospace and STEM careers.
This collaboration underscores the growing intersection of aerospace and agriculture via the emerging concept of Agronautics—where sustainability and space innovation converge. Through American Rocketry Challenge, students tackle real-world challenges that expand their thinking on responsible sourcing of rocket materials, environmental impact of launches, and precision agriculture utilizing aerospace tools.
Sponsored by AIA, the National Association of Rocketry, and 15 industry, government, and academia partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The competition has inspired more than 100,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields.

About the American Rocketry Challenge  
Since 2002, the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition, has engaged more than 100,000 middle and high school students in model rocketry. The annual challenge invites students to design, build, and fly rockets to exacting requirements and gain hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Sponsored by Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry, and more than 15 industry, government, and academia partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in STEM. The program has launched countless careers in aerospace and defense, and its alumni are helping to engineer the vehicles that will take us back to the moon, and, one day, on to Mars. www.rocketrychallenge.org  

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.