AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide distributor and manufacturer of agricultural equipment, AGCO Finance and AGCO-affiliated dealerships across the country provided more than $100,000 for 67 scholarships in support of local Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapters and the 2018 National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program.
“It is always a great source of pride to AGCO, AGCO employees and our dealers to contribute to such a worthwhile program,” said Clint Erickson, AGCO regional director of sales and FFA Sponsors' Board Member. “As a former Conrad High School FFA member in Conrad, Montana, I can say firsthand, as a recipient of a local FFA Alumni Scholarship, these investments into Future Agriculture leaders will pay huge dividends for our industry in the future.”
AGCO’s support for the National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program began in 2011 and involves financial contributions from local dealers and AGCO. The financial support is just one way the company and its employees express their appreciation and support for FFA and today’s youth. AGCO is also involved at the National FFA Convention & Expo each year and enlists the Gilbert, Iowa, High School FFA Chapter to help with the company’s Farm Progress exhibit near Boone, Iowa. These activities extend a 72-year partnership between the National FFA Organization and the company’s brands, one of the longest standing partnerships of FFA.
“The FFA shaped my high school career and my experiences through it will continue to lead me on my path in college and my career. I am so thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship and be able to continue my education. I will be able to study what I am passionate about and hopefully use my education to better the planet and the creatures that live on it,” said scholarship recipient Crista Bain.
AGCO, AGCO Finance, and AGCO Dealer-sponsored scholarships make up just a few of the 1,840 scholarships awarded by the National FFA Organization to 2018 high school graduates and select college students. This year, students shared a total of more than $2.6 million contributed by sponsoring companies. FFA received more than 8,800 applications in the 2018 award period. The average recipient has a GPA of 3.78 on a 4.0 scale and awards were based on academic records, FFA achievements, leadership, and other school and community activities. Supervised Agricultural Experience programs and future goals also were considered.
This is the 34th year for the FFA scholarship program, which began in 1984 with only 16 scholarships offered. The full list of FFA 2018 scholarship results can be found here: https://www.ffa.org/participate/scholarships
AGCO extends its best wishes to all scholarship and grant recipients and success academically and professionally in the years that follow.
About AGCO
AGCO (NYSE:AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural solutions and supports more productive farming through its full line of equipment and related services. AGCO products are sold through five core brands, Challenger®, Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson® and Valtra®, supported by Fuse® precision technologies and farm optimization services, and are distributed globally through a combination of more than 3,000 independent dealers and distributors in approximately 150 countries. Founded in 1990, AGCO is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., USA. In 2017, AGCO had net sales of $8.3 billion. For more information, visit http://www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 649,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is supported by 225,891 alumni members in 1,934 local FFA Alumni chapters throughout the U.S. 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. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.
About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.
