ADM Crop Risk Services along with ADM Alliance Nutrition participated in the FFA National Conference in Indianapolis this past October.  There were 55,000 FFA members and guests from across the country in attendance. Members participated in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops, a career show and expo, volunteer activities and much more. It is one of the largest annual student conventions in the country.
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the 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.

ADM CRS sponsored a booth at this year’s conference providing information to FFA members on the many products and services ADM offers as well as scholarship opportunities. In order to draw visitors into our booth we held contests for the FFA members to play. Each game had a different point value and the member or team with the most points at the end each day won $20.

ADM provides a total of $100,000 in scholarships to FFA members and Chapter Grants and the booth was a great forum to ensure FFA members were made aware of this opportunity. During this past summer/fall after the 2011 scholarship recipients were announced, ADM CRS worked with the ADM Grain Division in congratulating these recipients.  In many cases, we were able to meet for lunch and discuss their future in agriculture.  Not only was this a great opportunity for the scholarship recipients, but also the ADM representatives, who came away from the visit with confidence and pride in the future of these young entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to all winners.  We are looking forward to next year’s convention.