Here's the Scoop

What’s better than enjoying a scoop of Culver's Fresh Frozen Custard? Enjoying a scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard while supporting future agricultural leaders, of course. On Thursday, May 6, Culver’s restaurants will host Scoops of Thanks Day, where guests can stop by their local Culver’s and donate $1 to the National FFA Organization and other local agricultural organizations. In exchange, guests receive a single scoop of Vanilla or Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard or the Mooey Gooey Twist Flavor of the Day. The new flavor is dedicated to American dairy farmers, and their cows, who work hard to feed us!

Culver's held the first Scoops of Thanks Day seven years ago as part of its Thank You Farmers® Project, which has raised over $3 million to support agricultural education. It is so important to support the FFA and agricultural education because we are the next generation of leaders who will change the world. Here in the Wisconsin Association of FFA, we are working endlessly to provide endless opportunities for our 21,264 members. But we could not do it without supporters like you. I’ve put together 3 BIG reasons to consider supporting your local FFA chapter and agricultural education program!

FFA Builds. Through FFA, students abide by our motto: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve”. FFA encourages youth to become educated, motivated, and service-minded through various exercises and events.

FFA Encourages. Wisconsin FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. By participating in leadership conferences, Career and Leadership Development Events, and local competitions, or building a Supervised Agricultural Experience, FFA helps students develop interests, fine-tune their talents, and strive to reach their maximum potential. In turn, these are skills that members will carry with them for the rest of their life and will better prepare them when they enter the workforce and start their future careers. These are skills that cannot be learned from a textbook but are organized and demonstrated by devoted FFA advisors and other FFA members through hands-on learning and service.

FFA Educates. Currently, agriculture is the nation’s largest employer. According to the USDA, over 22 million people are working are in some aspect of this industry. When you think of agriculture, you probably think of crops and livestock. However, FFA helps to educate students that agriculture extends beyond production agriculture. There truly is a place for everyone in FFA and agriculture! In truth, it's a science, a business, and an art. In addition to providing food and raw material through crops and livestock, agriculture provides employment opportunities to their communities.

Other than National Blue and Corn Gold being our favorite colors, FFA members have a lot in common. We all hope to have the thrill of zipping up our FFA jackets for the first time, seeing the sea of blue corduroy at FFA events, and creating a million and two memories and inside jokes that we will cherish forever. This organization is special, unlike any other. Within the FFA, there are things that only FFA members will understand. For example, out of everything you learned from “Roberts Rules of Order,” point of order was probably your favorite thing to call at a meeting. If you are like me, you have been found guilty of using the parliamentary procedure as a part of your everyday lingo. You know that agriculture teachers are not your average teachers. Best friend, extra parent, coach, mentor, your advisor is not like any of your regular teachers and you are so thankful for them. Last but not least, we know the power behind the opening line of the FFA Creed. As FFA members, we believe in the future of agriculture.

Let me be clear. Being involved in the FFA is not the same thing as sitting in an agriculture class. I came from a well-established and involved FFA chapter, so I had this skewed idea that all FFA chapters were getting the full experience like I was. While serving northeast Wisconsin this year, I was able to see the big picture and the sad truth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of FFA chapters and ag programs that are flat-lining because they do not have alumni and supporters to help. Students are sitting in ag classes and do not have a clue as to what FFA is. Many think joining FFA means you want to be a farmer or that ag classes are just for those going into production agriculture fields. This is because they are not learning the motto, participating in career development events, applying for scholarships, learning to serve their community, and sadly, they are not wearing the blue jackets. But YOU can help!

Make sure to stop by your local Culver’s on Thursday, May 6, and donate $1 to agricultural education and receive a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard as Culver’s way of saying thanks! To find the restaurant nearest you to visit on Scoops of Thanks Day, visit Culver's locations page.

Stay Golden,

Katrina