Goal: Blue jackets for deserving students—at $75 each

The blue jacket is the very symbol of FFA—and you can help a deserving student buy a jacket (and accompanying tie or scarf) for a $75 contribution. Our goal is to raise enough support to provide deserving FFA members with jackets. In the fall of 2010, we awarded 121 jackets from the 154 applications received.  The Foundation works with local FFA instructors to identify deserving students to receive these jackets.

The idea for the jacket fund came from similar programs in New Jersey and North Dakota. Former Nebraska FFA state officers and husband and wife team, Adam Wollenburg and Anita Estes-Wollenburg have helped develop and grow the program. According to the Wollenburgs, the fund comes at a very good time as the current recession has made it more difficult for students to purchase jackets.

“We’ve had an excellent response to the program over the past two years, both in applicants and sponsors,” said Estes-Wollenburg. “All of the students receiving jackets have been so grateful for this opportunity. We know they will wear their jackets well, representing an outstanding legacy of youth in agriculture.”

If you wore a blue jacket yourself at one time—or perhaps simply believe in what that jacket stands for—please consider a tax-deductible gift of $75 to help a young student display his or her FFA membership proudly. The campaign runs from July through mid-September each year.