The National FFA Organization has received $3 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help strengthen Indiana FFA chapters.

The National FFA will partner with Indiana FFA to strengthen the organization in six primary areas: teacher professional development, recruitment and retention; curriculum development; capital support; staffing; and marketing. These initiatives will create an array of support programs to assist agriculture teachers in creating meaningful student interaction and expanding engagement with students from underrepresented and marginalized populations—a key focus of the National FFA Organization’s current strategic plan.

“This transformational investment will enable us, in partnership with Indiana FFA, to expand the impact of local FFA chapters and agricultural education programs on youth across Indiana,” said Scott Stump, CEO of the National FFA Organization. “We want everyone to feel welcome and a part of FFA and agricultural education. This funding helps us to support our teachers while offering resources to ensure Indiana FFA has the capacity and infrastructure to expand access for students from low-income households, communities of color, immigrant populations, students who lack adult supervision, or any other student who could benefit from FFA experiences.”

“The support of Lilly Endowment means many more students can enjoy what our leadership camp and programs are about in Indiana,” said Tamara Ketchen, director of the Indiana FFA. “We hope students develop the leadership skills and confidence to pursue a career in agriculture and food and stay in Indiana.”

The grant is one of nine grants totaling $91.5 million that Lilly Endowment has made to national youth-serving organizations to help them enhance and expand the impact of their Indiana affiliates and chapters. The grants reflect the Endowment’s longstanding commitment to the healthy development of youth in Indiana and to the youth workers and organizations that serve them.

“At Lilly Endowment we believe that this support will help National FFA and the other organizations funded serve more effectively in Indiana and reach even more youth,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education. “We also are pleased by the interest many of these organizations have in replicating strategies that succeed in Indiana with their affiliates and chapters around the country.”