FFA New Horizons publisher Meredith Agrimedia was honored for 75 years of support at the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo.
At the National FFA Convention & Expo, Milestone Sponsors and Donors are recognized and celebrated for their continued long-term commitment in donating to FFA to support youth both inside and outside the classroom.
This year, four corporate sponsors and 45 donors will be celebrated for their steadfast commitment over the years.
Meredith Successful Farming is being recognized for being a loyal supporter of FFA for the last 75 years, both financially and by telling the FFA story through its media outlets. The organization has contributed $1.5 million toward FFA.
“It has been in our company’s DNA from the very beginning to give back and support our youth,” said Scott Mortimer, vice president/group publisher at Meredith. “Our roots are firmly planted in agriculture, and FFA is an organization we have always felt passionately about.”
Mortimer has served on the National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board for the last three years and is an alumni member. He says the skills he learned during his early FFA years have continued to stick — and knows first-hand that FFA helps shape today’s youth for successful futures and careers.
“Keeping students connected back to the farm and to agriculture, in general, is critical,” Mortimer said. “FFA helps keep that connection intact and is preparing current and future generations to continue advancing the world of agriculture.”
The Successful Farming brand of Meredith has supported New Century Farmer — a conference that brings young producers together to learn about production agriculture — through coverage and promotion. Meredith Agrimedia, the agricultural properties owned by Meredith, has also partnered with FFA since 2017 to produce FFA New Horizons, the organization’s official member magazine.
“We are extremely proud as an organization of our years of giving and continuous support,” Mortimer said. “We are excited about the future of FFA.”
Milestone donors Dr. Paul and Marlene Armbrecht recognize the importance of investing in the future of FFA too.
The Armbrecht’s have been donors for the last 25 years, and Paul — a veterinarian in Rockwell City, Iowa — is a former FFA member.
“My high school vocational agriculture teacher, Mr. Harper, had an instrumental impact on me,” Armbrecht said. “He taught me that I could do whatever I wanted to do if I put my mind to it. He taught me that it was OK to have a vision and go after it, whatever that may be.”
Armbrecht’s vision was to become a veterinarian and has now been practicing swine veterinary medicine for the last 40 years. Armbrecht was the American Association of Swine Practitioners swine practitioner of the year in 1991. He was Iowa honorary master pork producer in 1988 and Iowa veterinarian of the year in 1989. His family was Iowa State Family of the Year in 2004 — both he and his wife, along with their five children, are graduates of Iowa State.
Twenty-five years ago, Armbecht found himself reflecting on the influence FFA has had on himself and his family — and remembered Mr. Harper encouraging him to give back to FFA when the time was right.
“We have always believed in giving back to the things that truly matter – and FFA is one of those things,” Armbrecht said. “The things I learned in the classroom back when I was in FFA have lasted me throughout this lifetime. I always want to encourage others that if an organization or a teacher — in my case, it was both — had an impact on who you are today, finding a way to give back is important to keep those legacies moving forward. I hope my support helps students who might not be familiar with agriculture have a chance of learning about what this field has to offer. We need people who understand and have a passion for agriculture.”
Thank you to all of our milestone sponsors and donors celebrated during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo:
2019-20 Milestone Sponsors
75 years
Meredith Successful Farming
50 years
Land O’Lakes Foundation
25 years
Fleet Farm
American Veterinary Medical Association
2019-20 Milestone Donors
25 years
Paul and Marlene Armbrecht
Douglas and Barbara Vawter
Duane and Rebecca Fisher
10 years
Charles and Stephanie Baer
Haldan Ballek
Kenneth Betz
Amy Brown
Wayne Brucker
Norman and Cheryl Byerly
Jacquelyn Deeds
Todd Eckert
Harold Ely
Will Fett
Joan French
Jerry and Linda Gourley
Ingrid and Markham Hensley
Eugene and Linda Hill
Robert Hill
Ray and Gerry Housel
Robert and Francene Juncker
Ralph Lachney
Moira Ann and George Morris
Jan Nelson
Walter and Lavonne Nelson
Douglas Raymakers
Thomas and Cindy Ritchey
Henry Rueden
Lisa and Brian Safarian
Steven and Norma Schehl
James Supplee
Harold and Thelma Tech
Howard and Julie Thomas
Ron Tracey
Harvey Ulfers and Jane Kemp-Ulfers
David and Sandra Wagner
Donald Wailes
Jerry and Naomi Warner
Tony Worthington
5 years
JB Penn
David Schapker
Jacquie Eblen
Della Logan
Penelope and Pat Naylor
Linda and Myron Tank
Jay and Katie Wilson
