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IDOA touts FFA growth & diversity

The deputy director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture says a line item in the state budget is helping more students than ever participate in FFA.

Kristi Jones tells Brownfield…

“In the FY ‘24 budget, Governor Pritzker dedicated dollars for any ag student to have their FFA dues covered,” she says.

Illinois has allocated $550,000 for the costs.  She says that’s boosted state FFA enrollment numbers to over 42,000.

“A big part of it was to increase diversity within the organization.”  She says, “There was a girl from the Bloomington area whose entire Star presentation was in Spanish, and I really don’t think those are things that you saw five,10, 15 years ago.”

Jones says it’s also an investment into the state’s future workforce. 

The Fiscal Year ’25 state budget also includes funding for the program.

Pictured above (from L to R): Drew Mickey, Taylorville FFA, Star Farmer; Waylon Paulek, Taylorville FFA, Star Ag Placement; Kristi Jones, Illinois Department of Agriculture Deputy Director; Olivia Shike, Unity (Tolono) FFA, Star Agriscience; and Ty Robison, Goreville FFA, Star Agribusiness

AUDIO: Kristi Jones – deputy director, IL Department of Agriculture