FFA Chapters Earn $26,000 in Pfizer Animal Health Marketing Contest
23 chapters receive awards for participating in
nationwide marketing contest
MADISON, N.J. - Oct. 17, 2011 - FFA chapters across the country partnered
with local suppliers to promote responsible use of animal health products - and
23 chapters earned $26,000 in the process.
"Pfizer Animal Health and our partners are longtime supporters of the
values and education FFA offers," says Julian Garcia, group marketing
director with Pfizer Animal Health. "This contest allowed us to really get
to know individual students and chapters. Not only did these chapters earn funds
to help support their activities, but these students made deeper connections to
the industry that can help them as they become our future leaders."
The first-place chapter, Napoleon FFA in Napoleon, N.D.,
received $2,500 and a trip to the Pfizer Animal Health's headquarters for the
adviser and four students. The chapter plans to use the funds to help support
student trips to the national FFA convention and state leadership conferences.
"The leadership skills students gain from these
contests and the ability to attend these conferences - regardless of what level,
national or state - I've seen how it completely changes students," says
Brian Schneider, Napoleon FFA chapter adviser. "This contest fits in well
with our classroom and FFA competitions. It was a perfect, real-life project for
them. It made them so much more confident in what they do. It was amazing to
watch, and that's one of the things I take a great deal of pride in. They
are at an amazing level for their age."
FFA chapters participating in the marketing contest worked with a local
veterinarian or animal health supplier on an educational program, producer
meeting, open house or other initiative to promote the effective, economic and
proper use of cattle animal health products. Then, the chapter submitted a plan
summary, how the objective was communicated to the audience and the response
from beef and dairy producer attendees.
For the Napoleon FFA Chapter, the contest allowed the students an
opportunity to test plans developed during FFA competitions and learn more about
animal health.
"For me, my family has been using the products since I was very
young," says Stephanie Gross, vice president of the Napoleon FFA chapter.
"As I got older, I became more interested, and my career goal is to work in
this area. I know it's important to develop my speaking ability and what we're
doing in FFA, and the ag sales completion helps with that."
The chapter gave presentations on animal health at the
local livestock auction market and an insurance meeting for farmers and
ranchers. The students also set up displays at local veterinary clinics and a
grain elevator. In addition to providing information on animal health, local
agricultural leaders also had a chance to see the future of agriculture in
action.
"I was proud and pleased to see how they handled themselves in front
of a group," says Ray Erbele, vice president of the Napoleon Livestock
Auction and former FFA adviser. "All of the people in the community are
very proud that the students are so dedicated. We had a ring full of producers,
and I know they got a lot of interaction and reaction from the people there. It
created an avenue to allow the people and our customers to know how important
FFA is and how important it is that we have young people that become actively
involved in agriculture and specifically animal agriculture."
About Pfizer Animal Health
Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc., is a
world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and
prescription medicines, investing an estimated $300 million annually in animal
health product research and development. For more information about how Pfizer
Animal Health works to ensure a safe, sustainable global food supply from
healthy livestock and poultry; or helps companion animals and horses to live
longer, healthier lives, visit www.PfizerAH.com<http://www.PfizerAH.com>.
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ND FFA Foundation