Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky FFA Foundation and long-time partner Farm Credit Mid-America are bringing FFA’s 212° and 360° leadership training programs to more than 15,000 FFA members throughout Kentucky. The programs are designed to equip students with personal leadership skills and challenge them to focus on chapter and community development.

Farm Credit Mid-America is strengthening its partnership with Kentucky FFA as part of its ongoing commitment to the organization that has had a significant influence on many of Farm Credit Mid-America’s more than 500 employees in Kentucky.

“Many of our employees were members of FFA as youth and many are still involved today as either volunteers or through their children,” says Mark Barker, Senior Vice President Financial Services with Farm Credit Mid-America. “Not only is our relationship with the FFA important to our employees, participating and supporting FFA aligns with our organizational desire to build leadership and educational skills among the next generation of farmers and agriculturalists.”

Along with helping to expand the 212° and 360° leadership programs, Farm Credit Mid-America’s financial grant will also be used to continue its State Star Farmer sponsorship, a relationship that has been in place between the two organizations for over 30 years. The sponsorship provides prize money to all candidates, a scholarship to the winner and Chapter Star Farmer plaques to every local FFA chapter in the state.

Other Kentucky FFA programs that receive support from Farm Credit Mid-America include State FFA Degrees given to more than 400 FFA members each year, educational resources for the Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center that sees more than 1,500 FFA members pass through its doors each summer for leadership training, and FFA State convention activities and workshops. In 2017, Farm Credit Mid-America is also equipping its entire fleet of company-owned vehicles with “Ag Tags,” where a portion of the proceeds are returned to organizations like the Kentucky FFA.

“We could not be more excited and grateful to Farm Credit Mid-America and its employees for their continuous support of our organization,” said Sheldon McKinney, Executive Director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. “We know that by expanding the breadth and depth of these important leadership training programs, our FFA members will experience life-changing results that will help them grow and be successful as agriculture leaders in our communities.”

For more information about the 212° and 360° leadership programs offered by Kentucky FFA or about supporting Kentucky FFA, contact Sheldon McKinney at (606) 782-4620.

About Kentucky FFA Foundation, Inc.

The Kentucky FFA Foundation is an independent organization devoted to accomplishing the aims of the FFA mission: To make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The Kentucky FFA Foundation’s vision is: Growing Leaders, Building Communities and Strengthening Agriculture. Visit www.kyffa.org for more information about the Foundation.

About Farm Credit Mid-America

Farm Credit Mid-America is a financial services cooperative, and has served the credit needs of farmers and rural residents across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee for a century. Backed by the strength of nearly 100,000 members and $22 billion in assets, Farm Credit Mid-America provides loans for real estate, operating, equipment, housing and related services such as crop insurance, and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information, call 1-800-444-FARM or visit e-farmcredit.com.