Agri-Agri-Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Award ProgramAward ProgramAn IntroductionAn Introduction

WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT?

Do you have a secret dream to start Do you have a secret dream to start or own a business?or own a business?

Do you see a market opportunity Do you see a market opportunity that has been overlooked by others?that has been overlooked by others?

Then the Agri-Entrepreneurship Then the Agri-Entrepreneurship Education Program is for you!Education Program is for you!

What is an agri-What is an agri-enterprise?enterprise?

An agri-enterprise is any business in An agri-enterprise is any business in the agricultural industry which the agricultural industry which includes production agriculture, includes production agriculture, food, fiber, the environment and food, fiber, the environment and natural resources.natural resources.

All FFA agricultural proficiency All FFA agricultural proficiency award areas qualify, but there may award areas qualify, but there may be many others.be many others.

AWARD IS BASED ONAWARD IS BASED ON:: The Agri-Entrepreneurship Student The Agri-Entrepreneurship Student

Awards are designed to recognize Awards are designed to recognize FFA members who have successfully FFA members who have successfully plannedplanned and/or startedand/or started agri- agri-enterprises.enterprises.

The award is based on the business The award is based on the business plan development.plan development.

All All FFA members (who have paid FFA members (who have paid their dues) are eligible to compete, their dues) are eligible to compete, includingincluding those who have graduated those who have graduated from high school.from high school.

Money awards are available at local, Money awards are available at local, state and national levels.state and national levels.

LOCAL SPONSORLOCAL SPONSOR

Chapter Winner receives $150 cash Chapter Winner receives $150 cash award and certificate.award and certificate.

If there is more than one student If there is more than one student from each chapter, advisor must from each chapter, advisor must designate chapter winner.designate chapter winner.

THIS IS NO JOKE!THIS IS NO JOKE! No matter how hard we try to No matter how hard we try to

advertise this award we can’t seem advertise this award we can’t seem to get the participation numbers up.to get the participation numbers up.

Every FFA chapter is eligible to Every FFA chapter is eligible to participate in this program.participate in this program.

The total number of applicants The total number of applicants we’ve had at the national level is no we’ve had at the national level is no more than 90.more than 90.

Think of the odds on being one of Think of the odds on being one of the 10 national winners.the 10 national winners.

GuidelinesGuidelines

Any FFA member can apply- multiple Any FFA member can apply- multiple applications from a chapter are applications from a chapter are encouragedencouraged Chapter winner designatedChapter winner designated Forward all applications to state levelForward all applications to state level States forward all applications to States forward all applications to

national levelnational level

Chapter winner receives certificate, jacket Chapter winner receives certificate, jacket pin and $150 from National FFA pin and $150 from National FFA Foundation and sponsor USDA Foundation and sponsor USDA Rural DevelopmentRural Development

Guidelines continuedGuidelines continued

STATE RECOGNITION STATE RECOGNITION

(if state conducts competition)(if state conducts competition)

Each finalist receives $250 cash Each finalist receives $250 cash awardaward

Certificate in black frameCertificate in black frame

Guidelines continuedGuidelines continued

Ten national finalist selectedTen national finalist selected

Each finalist receives $1,000 and Each finalist receives $1,000 and the chapter of each finalist receives the chapter of each finalist receives $500$500

Recognition at the national Recognition at the national convention in Octoberconvention in October..

Twenty examples of past Twenty examples of past winners!winners!

A business that produces and A business that produces and markets crafts made from barn woodmarkets crafts made from barn wood

A company that produces A company that produces vegetables, fruits and maple syrup vegetables, fruits and maple syrup for sale at farm marketsfor sale at farm markets

A business producing floral crops A business producing floral crops and arrangementsand arrangements

A company using worms to break A company using worms to break down compost resulting in fertilizerdown compost resulting in fertilizer

Owning a specialty hay business for Owning a specialty hay business for small horse owners.small horse owners.

A field scouting service for crop A field scouting service for crop producersproducers

A utility trailer sales businessA utility trailer sales business A special diets “meals to go” A special diets “meals to go”

processing/food science enterpriseprocessing/food science enterprise A fabrication company that specializes A fabrication company that specializes

in building livestock equipmentin building livestock equipment A specialty fruit and vegetable business A specialty fruit and vegetable business

that markets to the local Asian that markets to the local Asian communitycommunity

A vacation home lawn maintenance A vacation home lawn maintenance businessbusiness

A welding service to area farmersA welding service to area farmers A feedlot cleaning businessA feedlot cleaning business A relief milking service for area dairy A relief milking service for area dairy

farmersfarmers A water analysis businessA water analysis business A u-pick strawberry operationA u-pick strawberry operation Providing livestock and entertainment Providing livestock and entertainment

services to fairs and rodeosservices to fairs and rodeos

Selling insect mounts to Selling insect mounts to agriculture and science agriculture and science departmentsdepartments

Operating a small-scale floral shopOperating a small-scale floral shop A lawn maintenance and A lawn maintenance and

landscape servicelandscape service

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA?WHAT IS YOUR IDEA?

Materials & InformationMaterials & Information

Application available on line at Application available on line at www.ffa.org, or CD-ROMwww.ffa.org, or CD-ROM

Application on Microsoft Excel Application on Microsoft Excel Template (Microsoft Office 2000)Template (Microsoft Office 2000)

National Staff Technical AssistanceNational Staff Technical Assistance Deborah Sellers, CARE DivisionDeborah Sellers, CARE Division Program Coordinator (317) 802-4302 Program Coordinator (317) 802-4302

or or dsellers@ffa.orgdsellers@ffa.org Rosalie Hunsinger, CARE Division Rosalie Hunsinger, CARE Division Program Manager (317) 802-4255 Program Manager (317) 802-4255

rhunsinger@ffa.orgrhunsinger@ffa.org