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Chapter Corner
FFA's success begins at the chapter level
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of youth and impacting their lives one day at a time. The Minnesota FFA Foundation is committed to support your work to ensures the growth and development of the next generation of leaders for agriculture. We know you are incredibly busy shaping the lives of our youth each day, so hope this page is an easy resource to provide you with all necessary information pertinent to the Foundation in one place.
Upcoming Deadlines:
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November 1, 2025 - Minnesota FFA Foundation Scholarship applications open.
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February 1, 2026 - Washington Leadership Conference applications due.
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February 1st, 2026 - Minnesota FFA Foundation Scholarship applications due.
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October 1st, 2026 - Legacy Club Grant applications due. Applications will open Fall 2026!
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October 15th, 2026 - Blue Jackets Bright Futures applications due. Applications will open Fall 2026!
Information & Resources to Chapter Advisors:
Living to Serve Program - Learning to Do. Doing to Learn. Earning to Live. Living to Serve.
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As you go through your FFA experience, you are being supported by many people. Your advisor and parents are certainly at the top of the list, but do you know the role that the Minnesota FFA Foundation plays in your FFA involvement?
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We invite you to learn about the important partner to your FFA experience, the Minnesota FFA Foundation.
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To aid in your students learning more, we have developed resources tailored to specific events and groups to assist you and your members. Resources include: videos, downloadable resources, PowerPoints and more!
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Available Resources:
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Classroom Lesson:
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Chapter Meeting: Link to Chapter Meeting PowerPoint:
Officer Retreat:
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Chapter Banquet:
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Living to Serve is part of a member's FFA experience. We ask you to join others who understand the important role of supporting FFA through the Minnesota FFA Foundation.
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Questions on the Living to Serve Program can be directed to: Val Aarsvold Executive Director
Phone: (507)259-3586 OR Email: val.aarsvold@mnffafoundation.org
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Blue Jackets Bright Futures - Student applications are due October 15th. Students are responsible for completing the online application. A review team will review all applications and teachers will be notified by email by December 1st. Foundation Staff will then mail a packet to Ag Teachers at their schools who have recipients of the program. The packet will include a congratulations letter, a stamped and addressed thank you note to be completed and sent to the sponsor, and a gift card to the National FFA Store to place the order for your students jacket and scarf / tie.
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Students apply here: Applications are closed until Fall 2026.
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Application Guide / Tip Sheet for Students applying can be found here:
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Blue Jackets - Bright Futures program brochure for download:
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Flyer for you to promote the program in your classroom can be downloaded here:
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Questions on the Blue Jackets Bright Futures Program can be directed to: Amanda Sommers, Program Coordinator
Phone: (507)461-2214 OR Email: amanda.sommers@mnffafoundation.org
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Legacy Club Grant Applications - Applications are due October 1st. The Minnesota FFA Foundation established the Legacy Club recognizing that success begins at the chapter level. We value the work that you do to grow opportunities for your students and want to support that. The Legacy Club mission is to raise funds for chapters across the state through a grant program. We are pleased to offer Legacy Club Grants to support your work. Consider applying for a grant to support areas that you feel will grow your chapter. New Chapters (1-3 years) can apply for up to $1,500 in support, and existing chapters can apply for up to $1,000 in support. Teachers will be notified after
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Applications are now open to apply - Applications are closed until Fall 2026.
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Chapter Advisors follow up report form due August 31, 2026 here:
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Legacy Club program brochure for download:
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Questions on the Legacy Club Program can be directed to: Val Aarsvold, Executive Director
Phone: (507)259-3586 OR Email: val.aarsvold@mnffafoundation.org
Chapter Donations to the Foundation - For decades FFA chapters have shown their support of the valuable work of the Minnesota FFA Foundation through a contribution. Your support and that of others provides many services and opportunities for your chapter and the students you serve. These services and opportunities include: State Convention support (thus decreasing convention registration fees), Blue Jackets-Bright Futures program, Legacy Club Grants, Washington Leadership Conference scholarships, James W. Tracy Scholarships, placemats for chapter use and other additional resources. We understand that in recent years, it has become more challenging to make this contribution. With that said, we want to offer chapters two ways to make their contribution.
Please consider one of the two options described below:
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1. Download this form to accompany your chapter's donation check. Please mail form & payment by Dec 31.
2. Indicate your chapter's desired contribution to the Minnesota FFA Foundation by November 6th by Google Forms here:
* This identified contribution amount will be listed as a Foundation Assessment on an upcoming invoice from the Minnesota FFA Association.
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Questions on the Chapter Donations to the Foundation can be directed to: Val Aarsvold, Executive Director
Phone: (507)259-3586 OR Email: val.aarsvold@mnffafoundation.org
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Minnesota FFA Foundation Placements- Minnesota FFA Foundation sponsored placemats are available free of charge at your request! Distribution will be at the AgTech Conference in January, or by making special arrangements with Foundation staff.
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To place an order for placemats, please send an email to Val Aarsvold.
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To make a request, or for questions on the Foundation placemats, please contact:
Val Aarsvold, Executive Director
Phone: (507)259-3586 OR Email: val.aarsvold@mnffafoundation.org
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Minnesota FFA Foundation Scholarship Applications - Student applications are due February 1. This will be the 11th year the Minnesota FFA Foundation will be offering the scholarships for your students. The Minnesota FFA Foundation Scholarship Program encompasses two scholarships: the James W. Tracy Scholarship and the Thiher Family Scholarship. Learn more about both scholarships here!
Both scholarships have been developed by these generous donors to bring to life their dreams of supporting youth in agriculture, keeping rural America strong, and supporting FFA and 4-H members by providing scholarships to youth involved in agriculture.
Scholarships are open now with the deadline to apply: February 1, 2026.
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This scholarship is open to Minnesota FFA and Minnesota 4-H Members.
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Scholarship Eligibility: ​
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Must be a resident of Minnesota
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Must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited post-secondary school in the U.S.
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Must plan to pursue an academic award (certificate, diploma, or degree) in agriculture or animal husbandry. Students completing two or four year programs are allowed to apply.
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Open to High School Seniors or Current College Students
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It is possible to receive this scholarship twice: once as a high school student and once as a college student (if your application warrants and is selected both years)
This year $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to students based on the following criteria:
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Leadership, involvement, and agriculture interest
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Quality application with well-written essay question responses
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Three essay questions, limited to no more than 500 words
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Two letters of reference. Letters must be from non-family members. One letter of reference is required to be from someone who has known / worked with the student during the previous 12 months.
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Upon completion of the recipients Fall 2026 semester at a post-secondary school, the scholarship recipient will submit a copy of their transcript showing satisfactory progress. Once transcript is received by the MN FFA Foundation upon the completion of your Fall 2026 semester, a check will be issued to the recipient.
Scholarship Timeline:
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Applications are due by February 1st, 2026
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Scholarship recipients will be announced by April 1, 2026
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Application will be submitted through our scholarship portal, Foundant. Direct link is here. You will need to create an account to get started. Applicants can come back and edit their applications at any time until the deadline.
Applicants can apply here. Deadline is February 1:
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Flyers for you to promote the scholarship program in your classroom can be downloaded here:
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Questions on the Scholarship Program can be directed to: Amanda Sommers, Program Coordinator
Phone: (507)461-2214 OR Email: amanda.sommers@mnffafoundation.org
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Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) Scholarship Applications - The Washington Leadership Conference Scholarships are awarded by the Minnesota FFA Foundation to support FFA member’s participation in the Washington Leadership Conference. Scholarships are only available to members traveling to WLC. Scholarship amount from the Foundation is $550.
Additional information and questions are included in the application to be considered for the scholarships offered by the Minnesota FFA Alumni for WLC.
Receiving a scholarship does NOT constitute a registration for the conference. FFA Advisors should complete registration for the conference through Minnesota FFA Association staff.
Applicants can apply here: Applications due February 1, 2026
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Questions on the Washington Leadership Scholarship program can be directed to: Amanda Sommers, Program Coordinator
Phone: (507)461-2214 OR Email: amanda.sommers@mnffafoundation.org
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