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Agri-Entrepreneurship Award Program An Introduction. WHAT IS IT?. Do you have a secret dream to start or own a business? Do you see a market opportunity that has been overlooked by others? Then the Agri-Entrepreneurship Education Program is for you!. What is an agri-enterprise?.
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WHAT IS IT? • Do you have a secret dream to start or own a business? • Do you see a market opportunity that has been overlooked by others? • Then the Agri-Entrepreneurship Education Program is for you!
What is an agri-enterprise? • An agri-enterprise is any business in the agricultural industry which includes production agriculture, food, fiber, the environment and natural resources. • All FFA agricultural proficiency award areas qualify, but there may be many others.
AWARD IS BASED ON: • The Agri-Entrepreneurship Student Awards are designed to recognize FFA members who have successfully plannedand/or started agri-enterprises. • The award is based on the business plan development. • All FFA members (who have paid their dues) are eligible to compete, including those who have graduated from high school. • Money awards are available at local, state and national levels.
LOCAL SPONSOR • Every applicant obtain a local sponsor for $25, $50 or more (i.e., local bank, business or even FFA alumni) • Submit matching funds voucher to national center for 2 to 1 funds • If there is more than one student from each chapter, advisor must designate chapter winner.
Matching 2 to 1 Funds • Chapter winner designated and matching funds voucher sent to national center for disbursement of 2 to 1 funds. • For example: $25 local sponsor obtained. USDA Rural Development will double that to $50 • Student will have $75 from the local and national sponsor to go towards their SAE or business plan.
Matching 2 to 1 Funds • Chapter winner designated and matching funds voucher sent to national center for disbursement of 2 to 1 funds. • For example: $50 local sponsor obtained. USDA Rural Development will double that to $100 ($100 maximum national sponsor amount). • Student will have $150 from the local and national sponsor to go towards their SAE or business plan.
THIS IS NO JOKE! • No matter how hard we try to advertise this award we can’t seem to get the participation numbers up. • Every FFA chapter is eligible to participate in this program. • The total number of applicants we’ve had at the national level is no more than 90. • Think of the odds on being one of the 10 national winners.
Guidelines • Any FFA member can apply- multiple applications from a chapter are encouraged • Chapter winner designated • Forward all applications to state level • States forward all applications to national level • Chapter winner receives certificate, jacket pin and $75-$150 (based on local sponsorship- match is 2:1 from National FFA Foundation and sponsor USDA Rural Development
Guidelines continued • STATE RECOGNITION (if state conducts competition) • Each finalist receives $100 cash award • Certificate in black frame
Guidelines continued • Ten national finalist selected • Each finalist receives $1,000 and the chapter of each finalist receives $500 • Recognition at the national convention in October.
Twenty examples of past winners! • A business that produces and markets crafts made from barn wood • A company that produces vegetables, fruits and maple syrup for sale at farm markets • A business producing floral crops and arrangements • A company using worms to break down compost resulting in fertilizer
Owning a specialty hay business for small horse owners. • A field scouting service for crop producers • A utility trailer sales business • A special diets “meals to go” processing/food science enterprise • A fabrication company that specializes in building livestock equipment • A specialty fruit and vegetable business that markets to the local Asian community
A vacation home lawn maintenance business • A welding service to area farmers • A feedlot cleaning business • A relief milking service for area dairy farmers • A water analysis business • A u-pick strawberry operation • Providing livestock and entertainment services to fairs and rodeos
Selling insect mounts to agriculture and science departments • Operating a small-scale floral shop • A lawn maintenance and landscape service • WHAT IS YOUR IDEA?
Materials & Information • Application available on line at www.ffa.org, or CD-ROM • Application on Microsoft Excel Template (Microsoft Office 2000) • National Staff Technical Assistance • Rosalie Hunsinger, Education Division Program Manager (317) 802-4255 rhunsinger@ffa.org • Aimee Wright, Education Division Program Coordinator (317) 802-4302 or awright@ffa.org