Celebrating National Farmers Day on Oct. 12, The Giant Co. of Carlisle, Pa., said it will donate $20,000 to agriculture education programs growing future generations of food and agriculture leaders.
Partnering with the Pennsylvania Future Farmers of America Foundation, Maryland FFA Association, Virginia FFA Foundation and West Virginia FFA Association, the company will support more than 5,000 agriculture education students through leadership conferences and programming, according to a news release.
“Agriculture is essential to The Giant Co.’s purpose of connecting families for a better future; it is critical we lean in and support this important part of our world,” Rebecca Lupfer, Giant Co. divisional vice president of the mid-Atlantic, said in the release. “Investing in agriculture education through our state FFA partners is helping to grow the next generation by fostering future farmers and business leaders, increasing the awareness of agriculture to consumers and so much more.”
FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through school-based agricultural education. By fostering talents and education through hands-on experiences and professional development, members go on to be future farmers, chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, business leaders, food scientists and premier professionals in many career fields, the release said. More than 500 FFA chapters composed of 36,000 students span The Giant Co.’s four-state footprint.
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“Each year Pennsylvania FFA hosts three leadership conferences to enhance students’ skills in communication, advocacy, diversity and inclusion, agriculture literacy, confidence and more,” Pennsylvania FFA Foundation Executive Director Sarah Sparks said in the release. “Developing these skills allow individuals to pursue career readiness which matures into a talent pipeline.”
National Farmers Day recognizes the integral role farmers play in bringing food from farm to table. The Giant Co. partners with 218 local vendors and 130 farms, according to the release.