When Patrick Gottsch founded the Rural Free Delivery Television (RFD-TV) in 2000, he made sure that giving back to FFA was one of his top priorities.
“It was all about making sure people could see the work of the members at the local level,” says Molly Ball, National FFA Foundation president.
Gottsch passed away earlier this year, so his daughter, Raquel Gottsch Koehler, accepted the Blue and Gold Award (given to individuals who provide exceptional service to FFA and contribute to the advancement of agricultural education) in his honor.
Gottsch’s legacy remains the model that others will continue to follow into the future. Tractor Supply Company is one of the key partners that continues to carry out his legacy. It is working to make FFA events and programs accessible for all through the Grants for Growing program.
“A chapter in a rural town may not have the high technology that they do in a suburban school, so we want to build that up,” says Tractor Supply Company Foundation executive director Marti Skold-Jordan.
FFA advisor Sabrina Davis and the Arabia Mountain FFA Chapter from Georgia received a grant from the National FFA Foundation, which will help them pursue new educational opportunities, specifically in poultry science.
Tractor Supply Company spontaneously decided to match the initial grant amount for Davis and Arabia Mountain FFA, which made it possible for the chapter to finally purchase a flock of chickens for their members.
“It’s been a struggle trying to get everything lined up, but today it’s going to happen. We’re very excited about this,” Davis says.
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