Bayer’s long-standing support and relationship with the National FFA Organization is about as natural as it comes.
“We know FFA is creating tomorrow’s leaders who will be in our shoes one day, and we want to do everything we can to set them up for successful futures,” says Erik Curry, a regional account manager with Bayer and the Bayer FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter president.”
Curry helped form an alumni chapter within the company in 2017. Finding ways for employees to have a direct connection with FFA members across Missouri and Illinois was a priority for him and his colleagues who share ties to FFA.
“At Bayer, there are quite a few of us who were involved in FFA and learned so much from that time in high school,” Curry said. “FFA is where many of us gained our leadership skills, learned about responsibility and time management and learned how to successfully network within the agriculture community. This is an opportunity for us to give some of that back.”
The corporate alumni chapter at Bayer has around 150 active members. The chapter has judged state and national career development events, packaged meals through the Meals of Hope network, prepared national officers for candidacy and more.
“Mentoring is a critical component of our efforts,” says Angela Culler, who has participated as a mentor for FFA. “It enables us to connect to the FFA members, discuss education and career options, and hopefully enable the next generation of ag leaders to see how broad and impactful opportunities in agriculture can be. Mentoring helps us as an industry better understand the challenges facing students today, and how we may be able to assist them.”
A platinum sponsor, Bayer has supported FFA since 1954 and has contributed more than $20 million to FFA and agricultural education.
In 2019, Bayer announced a $6 million commitment over the next five years to FFA and National 4-H Council to support future leaders in agriculture.
“Whether it’s helping put blue jackets on the backs of students who need one or helping support their education, we want to help young people advance agriculture forward,” Curry says.
Curry says Bayer’s alumni chapter actively supports local chapters through fundraising — but mentoring and sharing resources are also a critical part of their efforts.
“Through all of our different backgrounds and influences, we want to provide more context into what kind of opportunities exist not only at Bayer but the world of agriculture as a whole,” Curry says. “We want to be the best possible resource. If we can help more students be exposed to more opportunities early on, my hope is that it can encourage them to aim high with their career goals and dreams.”
