Several FFA members from Illinois are receiving FFA jackets through a program honoring the legacy of a long-time GROWMARK employee.
The GROWMARK Foundation is giving away 25 FFA jackets this fall. Karen Jones with GROWMARK tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that this program began last year in an unfortunate circumstance.
?One of our vice presidents at GROWMARK on our leadership team, Mike Builta, passed away unexpectedly,? Jones said. ?In his honor, people made donations to the GROWMARK Foundation. His wife and daughters decided they wanted to do something special to honor his memory. He was an FFA member himself and always supported the organization. They decided that a nice way to remember him and help his legacy live on would be to create an FFA jacket donation program.?
The program awards jackets only to FFA members from Illinois with a goal of providing 100 jackets throughout a four-year span. Jones says it?s always an honor when any FFA member gets their jacket.
?I remember when I was in high school and I got my first FFA jacket and how that felt to have that,? Jones said. ?It?s such an iconic symbol of the organization and all the different things I hoped to accomplish. It?s really important and neat for these students to get to have their own jacket. They write a little essay about their goals and some of the things they hope to accomplish in their FFA career. It?s heartwarming to hear their stories and know that these students now get to feel that same excitement and belonging into the organization.?
Builta was raised on a family farm near Bellflower, Illinois. He was an active FFA member and lifelong supporter of agricultural education. For more information on the FFA jacket program, visit growmark.com.
