FFA chapters can apply for up to $5,000 each year through the Grants for Growing program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. The program is funded through purchasing FFA paper emblems at checkout in-store and online at Tractor Supply stores nationwide from Feb. 14 to March 3.
This year, Tractor Supply announced that team members generated over $1 million by purchasing FFA paper emblems at checkout in-store and online. The funds will support middle and high school FFA chapters in developing project-based or experiential learning opportunities.
“Tractor Supply is proud to support FFA’s transformative education programs that have such a profound impact on students nationwide,” said Kimberley Gardiner, chief marketing officer at Tractor Supply. “The experiences these students have now will inform the future of agriculture in this country. We are so appreciative of the generosity our customers and Team Members have shown through nine years of the Grants for Growing fundraiser to ensure they have those experiences. We are eager to see which projects and opportunities these students bring to life through this year’s grants.”
The Grants for Growing fund supports projects with grants up to $5,000 in one of three focus areas: Grow Your Classroom, where funds can be used to enhance students’ classroom knowledge; Grow Your FFA Chapter, which supports the development or expansion of an FFA chapter and leadership opportunities; and Grow Your Ag Awareness, which aids in the development or expansion of agricultural literacy events or campaigns.
Projects supported during the 2023 fundraiser include:
- Hutchinson CTE Academy in Hutchinson, Kansas, has purchased an AI Swine Breeder Simulation to provide students with animal care skills and facilitate certification, enhancing their preparation for entering the animal science workforce.
- Havelock FFA in Havelock, North Carolina, is constructing a fence to accommodate more animals on campus, enabling members to showcase these animals, gain insights into animal welfare, and bolster agricultural awareness within the community.
- North Paulding FFA in Dallas, Georgia, is producing materials and interactive presentations for various agricultural literacy workshops, informational booths, and an Agriculture Awareness Day for both the school and the wider community.
To receive grant funding, FFA advisors can submit applications online. Submissions must include a detailed proposal for a project that supports the development of future agricultural leaders and the larger community. Winners will be announced on August 1, 2024.
This year’s donation brings Tractor Supply’s total contribution to the National FFA Organization to $24 million. Through Grants for Growing, Tractor Supply has awarded 1,795 grants impacting over 182,000 students.
In addition to Grants for Growing, beginning in 2022, Tractor Supply committed $5 million over five years to the FFA Future Leaders Scholarship, making it the largest agriculture scholarship fund.
In 2023, the scholarship was awarded to 146 students to support their higher education and training in agriculture and skilled trades. Tractor Supply also supports FFA through its annual T-shirt fundraiser, which benefits Living to Serve, Alumni Legacy Grants, New Farmers of America Archives, and Give the Gift of Blue programs.