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 The FFA Enrichment Center
A Special Project of the
Iowa FFA Foundation
The Ground Breaking Ceremony was on
October 8, 2007 at 1:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center Ground Breaking
Press Release
October 8th
was a very special day for FFA in Iowa. Several major sponsors, FFA members and other interested individuals helped celebrate the groundbreaking
ceremony for the FFA Enrichment
Center.
When
Ryan Borcherding Iowa FFA President presented a certificate to each “High 5” FFA chapter in attendance, he stated
that “The FFA Enrichment Center will enhance the FFA’s mission to make a positive difference in the lives of young
people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” Borcherding continued by saying "The FFA Enrichment Center will not only allow the
Iowa FFA Association to better conduct its current programs but will open up the opportunity for new activities that enhance
FFA members’ ability to be more prepared for their future in agriculture." “High
5” chapters are those which contributed $5,000 or more towards the FFA
Enrichment Center. FFA members attending were from these eight chapters: Adair-Casey
FFA, Boone A&M FFA, Central Lee FFA, Fairfield FFA, Louisa-Muscatine FFA, Monticello FFA, Reno Smith FFA and Southeast
Polk FFA Chapters.
The FFA Enrichment
Center will be a 60,000 square foot leadership development facility to
be constructed on the Des Moines Area Community College Campus. It will include
two large conference rooms, six breakout rooms, a biotechnology laboratory, communications center, computer lab, state FFA
officer suite and exhibition hall. The Iowa FFA Foundation will relocate to become
a part of this building too. Greenhouses, a vet-tech lab, and six classrooms
will also serve all agricultural students attending Des Moines
Area Community College.
Major partners providing dollars and inkind support towards the FFA
Enrichment Center include Stine
Seed Company ($2 million). One million dollars and over sponsors are: Monsanto, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Denny Albaugh, the City of Ankeny
and DMACC. Following continuation of the Capital Campaign to raise an additional
$2 million and the bidding process with contracts, actual construction will begin next March.
After 12 to 14 months of construction, there will be an open house in the spring of 2009.
Additional
key partners are Pioneer Hi-Bred International, John Deere Des Moines Works and John Deere Credit, Cargill, Growmark, Titan
Tire, Nationwide Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Iowa Farmer Today, Rabobank, The Ertl Company, Kent Feeds, Iowa
FFA Alumni Association, Land O’Lakes, Don Lamberti, Steve Dakin, Dakin Ag; MinnTex Citrus – Iowa, West Liberty
Foods, Steve Juelsgaard, Jim Hamilton, Tall Corn Ethanol, Robert and Cynthia Cramer and Wallaces Farmer.
Individuals,
organizations and companies can still become a partner in advancing and enhancing the FFA Enrichment Center. For information on how to contribute – contact Wayne Nattress, Executive Director
of the Iowa FFA Foundation: phone 515-967-4000 or e-mail to IowaFFAFound@QwestOffice.net. Anyone can mail checks to the Iowa FFA
Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Mitchellville,
Iowa 50169.
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Ground Breaking Ceremony Photographs - Click Here
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What
The FFA Enrichment
Center will enhance learning opportunities for more than 12,000 Iowa FFA members and 230 agricultural
education instructors. With approximately 75,000 square-feet of classrooms and
meeting spaces, the center will offer hands-on learning activities that promote leadership development, personal growth, and
career success.
The FFA Enrichment Center will provide unique teaching tools and resources including greenhouses,
computer and science laboratories, fiber optic connectivity for long-distance learning, recreation/exhibition facilities,
and breakout rooms for groups of all sizes.
Breakout rooms will accommodate statewide FFA events ranging from small and large group leadership
conferences and Career Development Events (CDEs) to agriscience instructor training.
The FFA Enrichment Center also will be ideal for career expositions and small industry trade
shows. In addition to educational facilities, the center will include the offices
and facilities for the Iowa FFA Foundation.
Why
The FFA Enrichment
Center will enhance the FFA’s mission to make a positive difference
in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership,
personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
Where
The FFA Enrichment Center will be built on the Des Moines
Area Community College campus near Ankeny, Iowa. This is a central location easily accessed by
Interstates 80 and 35.
The city of Ankeny offers plentiful options for accommodations, dining, and
shopping. In addition, the Ankeny location makes its
easy to travel to both Ames and Des Moines for off-site learning opportunities.
The center’s location on DMACC’s campus provides for plentiful and free parking.
Plus, the building will be highly visible to the general public.
When
Time is of the essence. With your financial support
and personal endorsement, The FFA Enrichment Center will become a reality.
Ground breaking will take place on the DMACC campus
on October 8, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Please join us in celebrating this memorable moment in FFA history.
FFA and DMACC – Partners in Education
Located on the Ankeny campus of Des Moines
Area Community College, The FFA Enrichment Center will promote life-long learning. FFA members can learn from DMACC instructors about Veterinary Technology, Biotechnology, Horticulture,
and emerging areas like Viticulture.
In addition to the education benefits,
the DMACC partnership:
- Maximizes facility use.
- Provides for ongoing facility maintenance, technical support, security, and grounds-keeping.
- Allows for coordinated scheduling of the facility, with first priority to FFA and other agriculture education organizations.
Contribute Today
You’re invited to “Lead By Example” by joining our capital campaign for The FFA Enrichment Center. Your public support will encourage other Iowans to join our cause.
All gifts to The FFA Enrichment Center are tax deductible as provided by law.
Please consider support in one of the following levels:
$1 Million and above Crystal
$500,000
to $999,000 Diamond
$250,000
to $499,000 Emerald
$100,000
to $249,000 Sapphire
$50,000
to $99,000
Ruby
$25,000
to $49,000
Blue Topaz
$10,000 to $24,999
Pearl
$5,000
to $9,999
Blue Corduroy
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