Dave Maurer (pictured above, far left) experienced a life-changing realization as an Olympia FFA member.
“I was working on my first record book, where it stepped through determining several income, cost and profit ratios. These were completely new concepts for me, and seeing them for the first time gave me a tremendous ‘aha!’ moment. I understood my business better, and I started thinking about things I could do that might improve my profit. I have used business analysis like this ever since,” Maurer says.
Maurer’s supervised agricultural experience (SAE) included farming 16 acres of corn and soybeans. In high school, he became a chapter and section officer. Later, he served as a section president and the 1980-81 Illinois FFA secretary/ treasurer. He is also an American FFA Degree recipient.
Maurer, commercial manager for urban pest management at Corteva Agriscience, has built a long career in sales and marketing. He’s a lifetime FFA Alumni and Supporters member, an Illinois FFA Foundation Board member, and the third-generation owner and operator of his family’s farm in Illinois.
Motivated by his FFA experiences, he is a longtime contributor to National FFA, Illinois FFA and his home chapter.
He recently established the Maurer Family SAE Endowment with the National FFA Foundation, which will annually provide two SAE Grants for members needing financial assistance to launch and sustain an SAE.
Maurer says, “I had life-changing FFA experiences from the investments people before me made in this great organization. Contributing at the national, state and chapter level is my chance to pay it forward for future members just as others did before I became a member.”
Maurer believes supporting the National FFA Foundation furthers opportunities for states and chapters. He describes the connection between all levels of FFA as a symbiotic relationship.
“Chapters don’t exist without the state and national organizations, and the state and national organizations don’t exist without the chapters. Members benefit from activities and events that are provided by each level, and it takes all three to create a broad range of member experiences.”
“If you are capable, the most impactful way to support members is to provide time and financial resources to all three levels,” Maurer continues.
With help from other financial contributors and supporters, Maurer is certain future FFA members can continue to have “aha!” moments just as he did.
