FFA Alumni awarded grant

MOSCA — The National FFA Organization awarded an FFA Alumni and Supporters Legacy Grant to the Sangre de Cristo FFA Alumni and Supporters. The Sangre de Cristo FFA Alumni & Supporters plans to use the funds to partner with the Sangre de Cristo High School FFA Chapter (SDC FFA) in the purchase of a bred heifer for their cow/calf production project. 

The FFA Alumni are growing a cattle herd to fund scholarships for students choosing to pursue higher education in agriculture-related fields. 

Amanda Gallagher, president of the SDC FFA Alumni and Supporters was quoted as saying, “we want to give local FFA students a leg up towards their education. The cow/calf project is a means to do that. Our hope is that these kids will, upon graduation from college, contribute to various fields of agriculture and potentially even come back to the San Luis Valley.”

Two prior SDC FFA Alumni scholarship recipients, Erica Sinclair and Jose Mix, recently announced acceptance into veterinary medical graduate schools. Sinclair is going to Colorado State University and Mix has chosen Michigan State University.  More than $40,000 in grants, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, has been awarded through the National FFA Organization’s FFA Alumni and Supporters Legacy program this year. The purpose of National FFA Alumni and Supporters Legacy grants is to grow the number of local FFA Alumni and Supporters chapters, improve the quality of existing FFA Alumni and Supporters chapters and provide more opportunities for partnership between FFA student chapters and alumni chapters.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 669,989 student members who belong to one of 8,630 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 513,944 alumni members in 2,275 alumni and supporters chapters throughout the U.S.

About National FFA Organization

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 news page of the National FFA Organization.

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.