INDIANAPOLIS, April 30, 2015– A Texas family recently donated $250,000 to establish an endowment to be used solely for developing a plan to attract and retain National FFA Organization advisors and agriculture teachers.
There is a critical shortage of agricultural education teachers who serve as FFA advisors, and the Wilsons donated the funds to help fill this need, the FFA’s announcement said.
According to FFA, Herman Wilson of Houston was inspired by his agricultural education teacher in east Texas more than 62 years ago. He and his wife donated the money to create an endowment that is the first of its kind.
"We want other investors to put their money where their thoughts are," Wilson said, adding that teachers who can motivate students are the heart of FFA, and that the organization needs to find ways to attract college students to agricultural education.
"The Wilson’s generosity will make it possible for FFA to continue the good work of furthering agricultural education," said National FFA Organization CEO Dr. Dwight Armstrong, adding that advisors and agricultural educators make “a huge impact” on students.
FFA provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
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