CHS Inc. awards National FFA Foundation's National Teach Ag Campaign largest single financial contribution



Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota-headquartered CHS Inc. (Nasdaq: CHSCP) has made the largest financial contribution ever to a special campaign focused on raising awareness for the need for more agricultural teachers in U.S. high schools.

CHS, the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative, has allocated $104,300 for the National Teach Ag Campaign, an initiative to bring attention to the need for more agricultural educators in the U.S. The campaign provides resources for those who wish to help promote the profession of agricultural education and for those interested in pursuing a career in agricultural education.

Led by the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the campaign is sponsored by CHS Foundation, Landmark and Delmar Cengage Learning as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

"The gift that CHS has provided for the National Teach Ag Campaign is the largest received from any donor since the campaign's inception in 2010," said National FFA Foundation executive director Rob Cooper. "We are extremely grateful that CHS chose to support FFA programs and initiatives that help agriculture teachers."

The CHS Foundation is the major giving entity of CHS Inc. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development.

"Developing the next generation of agriculturists and supporting the important work of agricultural educators is very important to the farmers, ranchers and local cooperatives who own CHS," said William Nelson, president of CHS Foundation and vice president of CHS Corporate Citizenship. "We are pleased to demonstrate this commitment by increasing our support to the National FFA Foundation and the National Association of Agricultural Educators' Teach Ag Ed Campaign."

CHS is a silver sponsor of FFA for 2012. The company has also pledged $145,700 to support FFA initiatives, including proficiencies, career development events, the annual Washington Leadership Conference and post-secondary agricultural education endeavors.

FFA logoThe National FFA Foundation is the fundraising arm of the National FFA Organization, which provides agricultural education to 540,379 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,489 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

2.01.2012