25 June 2005
“Premier leadership, personal growth and career success” are some of the goals of the FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America. At Intervet Inc. we applaud those goals, and hope our involvement in the FFA plants the seeds of growth in young people for generations to come.
Why the FFA? We are investing in our future. Students who join FFA further their interests in the expanding fields of agriculture, while developing their leadership skills and a sense of social responsibility. As FFA members, they have the opportunity to start a business, raise an award-winning calf or study pollution in a local waterway. These same students then go on to run the family farm in Texas, discover new livestock vaccines in De Soto, Kansas or teach in public schools in Massachusetts. We hope our efforts with the FFA support the development of young adults into outstanding members of the community.
As part of Intervet’s commitment to FFA, the company will sponsor the 2005 FFA National Leadership Conference for State Officers. The conference builds camaraderie among the FFA’s senior leaders from both the state and national organizations and supports the development of resources for FFA chapters across the country. In recent years, Intervet has also sponsored national awards in aquaculture entrepreneurship and proficiency and livestock management. Winners of these awards are recognized at the national FFA convention. In addition, Intervet contributed to a “calf raffle” at the World Dairy Expo with proceeds benefiting the Wisconsin FFA organization.
Intervet employees also give their time and labor to FFA away from work. As many as 12 percent of Intervet employees say they were a member growing up or have a family member who belongs to FFA, or that they support the organization locally in some way. Some have children who are second-, or even third-generation members. “All of my children were in FFA in school,” says Intervet employee Suzanne Mitchell, “I couldn’t be prouder…it’s a wonderful organization.”
And the results are showing. According to FFA, nearly half a million children take part in FFA activities in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FFA members earn $4 billion dollars annually through the program’s hands-on work experiences, and 1,500 hundred students benefited from FFA scholarships in 2004.
At Intervet, we are proud to be a small part in such an outstanding organization.
Support for future graduates
Research is one of the cornerstones of Intervet’s success in animal health. We need to maintain intensive relationships with disciplines like veterinary science, and appropriate funding for research opportunities at postgraduate level or for scientists in developing countries is by no means widely available. That is why Intervet runs various programs to support up-and-coming graduate students throughout the world:
- Award to encourage research into poultry science, Intervet Egypt
- Connect Bursary award for veterinary students, Intervet United Kingdom
- Travel bursaries, Intervet Ireland
- Scholarships, Intervet Korea
