ND FFA Foundation
PO Box 6022
Bismarck, ND 58506
701-224-8390 or 701-471-5004
Press release (for immediate release)
December 8, 2011
Contact: Beth Bakke Stenehjem (701)471-5004 cell
Email Address: bethbakke@btinet.net
The
Gift that Keeps on Giving
“Learning
to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”
This is the FFA motto and no one exemplifies it more than Mr. Fridtjov
Bakk. It was the mid 1960’s, and
Fridtjov Bakk reflected on his life as an immigrant farmer in eastern North
Dakota and those who had made his transition from Norway to this country easier.
Bakk had taken agriculture courses at a local high school and forged a
relationship with FFA members that would impact North Dakota’s members for
generations to come.
Making
arrangements with his attorney, Bakk established a land trust that would provide
future FFA members support to advance their interests in agricultural careers.
In October 2006, this trust was transferred to the North Dakota FFA
Foundation, Inc.
The
North Dakota FFA Foundation Board of Directors immediately set out to make sure
this trust was handled as Mr. Bakk had intended.
Programs were developed that provide assistance to FFA members, ranging
from programs benefiting the youngest members to young farmers just starting
their careers in agricultural production.
Land in Sargent and Richland counties is farmed and continues to produce
revenue that supports FFA programs across the state.
To date, the generosity of this gift has been responsible for:
78 Beginning Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) grants, 75 Expansion
SAE grants, 33 college scholarships, and 20 Young Farmer scholarships to former
FFA members enrolled in the ND Farm Business Management program; a gift totaling
over $150,000. Karl Kenner of the
Maddock FFA chapter was a recent recipient of an SAE grant, “I am very
thankful that I received one of the $1000 grants last year. “ I was able to
purchase a bred bison cow to expand my bison herd to six.
Because of the increase in costs of feed this past year, I would have had
to use my funds just to maintain my present animals without expanding.
The extra $1000 was beneficial towards the purchase of an additional
bison cow."
The continuing legacy of this gift has and will continue to enhance the
education and opportunities of the youth and young adults involved in
agriculture in North Dakota for years to come.
It is important that current and former FFA members and supporters know
of the tremendous impact Bakk’s give has made and realize the lasting affect
this gift has had and continues to contribute to agriculture’s future leaders.
FFA students can be found in all parts of the state, from
Divide
County
to Wahpeton to
Park
River
and Bowman. These members can look
forward to unlimited success in life. FFA
students are future chemists, veterinarians, government officials,
entrepreneurs, international business leaders, teachers and premier
professionals in numerous other careers. The
skills that are developed through FFA serve a student well throughout life,
regardless of the individual paths chosen by the student.
For
more information about the ND FFA, please visit the website for the ND FFA
Foundation at http://www.ndffafoundation.com.
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ND FFA Foundation