What We Do - Iowa FFA Foundation

The Iowa FFA Foundation is responsible for coordinating scholarships designed to assist students financially as they prepare for a career in the industry of agriculture. Some of these scholarships include the following:

Click Here For Scholarship Information for FFA Members

Heartland Co-op

Ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students in 2 or 4-year college programs. Applicant must be a full-time student accepted to an Iowa college ag program and be a Heartland Co-op member or dependent.

Murphy-Brown LLC

Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to a full-time agriculture student accepted to an Iowa college and who is majoring in an ag curriculum. Applicant must reside in counties where Murphy-Brown LLC has one or more contract grower.

NEW Co-op

Five $2,000 scholarships will be offered to full-time ag students who are enrolled in an Iowa college offering an ag degree. The applicant or his/her parents must be members of NEW Coop.

Orscheln

Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to FFA members (all 4 years of high school) entering their freshman year at the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University. The applicant's home must be within a county which has an Orscheln retail store.

Iowa State Fair

Applicants must have been involved in FFA activities at the Iowa State Fair such as exhibiting, ushering, or demonstrations.

There are a total of 50 agricultural proficiency areas which attract the attention of many Iowa FFA members. FFA members first complete applications on a district level. The top two contestants in each district are advanced to state for review and evaluation. The first place applicant will receive a cash award of $100, and the second place person $50. Also, a special agricultural proficiency plaque to each of the top two individuals. In addition, we will present each gold award recipient a gold pin to wear on his/her FFA jacket. The total sponsorship needed for each proficiency area's cash awards, plaques and gold state award pins is $300.

Benefits to Sponsors: Sponsors will be invited to have a representative participate in presenting first- and second-place cash awards and plaques on stage during the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames and attend a special luncheon for the proficiency winners and their award area sponsor. This will provide an opportunity for each sponsor to meet with the top two winners and exchange conversation at the luncheon.

Dollars invested in Iowa FFA members are tax deductible to the full extent of Iowa law relating to non-profit 501(C3) organizations.

FFA members are recognized for their knowledge, problem solving, and achievement of skills in Iowa FFA Career Development Events by honoring the highest placing participants with rosettes and plaques. However, there are some areas of competition which are not currently sponsored. It is important that all FFA members and chapters be recognized in a similar manner for their accomplishments.

Benefits to Sponsors: Gold ($500) and above sponsors will be invited to a sponsor's luncheon at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference and recognized at the afternoon session before an audience of almost 5,000 FFA members, parents, advisors, FFA Alumni and agribusiness/industry leaders.

Dollars invested in Iowa FFA members are tax deductible to the full extent of Iowa law relating to non-profit 501(C3) organizations

FFA members gain valuable experiences when exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair. Taking advantage of this opportunity helps young people learn to select, feed and manage high quality livestock which meet the consumer demands. Cash awards for the performance beef, derby pork, and carcass lambs encourage students to gain educational experiences associated with production of quality food efficiently. Understanding carcass qualities in addition to showing live animals deserves additional premium money and prizes. Therefore, it is necessary to secure these dollars to attract more students to the shows which include carcass evaluation in the final placing.

The Foundation's goal is to raise $3,000 for performance beef exhibitors, $4,000 for derby pork exhibitors, and $2,000 for carcass lamb exhibitors.

Agribusinesses, food processing companies, manufacturers of livestock equipment and livestock producers, as well as associations are encouraged to invest in Iowa's young people who are preparing for farming and other future careers in the livestock industry by providing donations ranging from $100 to $1,000. These dollars will create more interest in exhibiting in the carcass and performance classes at the Iowa State Fair.

Benefits to Sponsors: All financial investors in Iowa FFA members will receive a sponsor's card plus an appreciation certificate to display. Names of sponsors for each species will be included on posters displayed in respective livestock show buildings. Sponsors will receive copies of the carcass/performance show results following the Iowa State Fair. Gold ($500) and above sponsors will be invited to a sponsor's luncheon at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference and recognized at the afternoon session before an audience of almost 5,000 FFA members, parents, advisors, FFA Alumni and agribusiness/industry leaders.

Contributions to the Iowa FFA Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of Iowa law for non-profit 501(C3) organizations.