The 2023-2024 ND FFA Foundation Annual Report is hot off the press and hitting doorsteps! You can read it all online by clicking here.
State Contests: The annual State FFA Tractor Driving competition was held at the State Fair grounds in Minot, drawing participants from across the region. The competition included a series of practical tests designed to assess the participants’ abilities in tractor operation, safety procedures, and equipment maintenance, ending with competitors maneuvering through an obstacle course. The competition not only tested their driving skills but also emphasized the importance of safety and efficiency in agricultural practices.
Basic Tractor Operator High Individual: Gabriel Scheresky, Max FFA
Advanced Tractor Operator High Individual: Jacob Hinrichs, Carrington FFA
Tractor Operator Sponsors: Charles & Roberta Ramberg, Gooseneck Implement, Steffes Auction Group, and ND State Fair
Program & Award Highlights:
–PDC Banquet: Eager Beaver Grant Winners, Rivers Bachman and Jared Lovro + Distinguished Service Award, Beth Allen
PDC FarmBeats for Students Workshop: Together with Microsoft, Foundation staff hosted a workshop that introduced ag educators to precision agriculture tools and curriculum they can use in their classrooms.
Funded through a grant from Alliance Pipeline, North Dakota Ag teachers received an array of door prizes, highlighting the importance of classroom safety and agricultural education.
Today’s farms are beginning to look a lot more like smart cities. Growers use innovative tools like sensors, computer vision, and artificial intelligence (AI) to acquire a deeper understanding of their crops. These methods help farmers use data to make better decisions, discover inefficiencies, and unlock new insights into food production and resource management. The FarmBeats for Students program brings these modern techniques into the hands of today’s learners.
The program combines an affordable hardware kit with curated curriculum and activities designed to give students hands-on experience in precision agriculture. The learning progression enables students to easily see the impact of modern tools and the opportunities within agriculture.
Through the FarmBeats for Students program, students build a garden monitoring system and learn about AI, data analysis, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A more robust, hands-on workshop will be held during the Mid-Winter Conference in January to give educators an opportunity to advance their skills further.
