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Lawmakers question National FFA direction, seek details on Syngenta and DEI

Leaders on the Congressional FFA Caucus and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee are questioning the direction of the National FFA Organization.

In a letter sent to National FFA CEO Scott Stump last week, Jason Smith from Missouri, David Schweikert from Arizona and Tracey Mann from Kansas say FFA’s partnership with Syngenta and ongoing emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives are a problem.

The lawmakers say they are providing oversight of nonprofits for foreign influence, political or ideological activity or actions inconsistent with charitable missions, and because Syngenta is owned by ChemChina/Sinochem, there are national security concerns. They also say the National FFA’s DEI focus distracts from its ag education mission and divides students by race or gender.

They warn advocacy through DEI and corporate partnerships could jeopardize the organization’s tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and have requested the FFA provide documentation by next Tuesday, February 17 about all partnerships or contracts with Syngenta, the Syngenta employees serving in leadership roles within the organization, the DEI strategy documents created or reviewed by Syngenta since 2020 and total financial contributions from Syngenta or related entities at any level.

In a statement, the National FFA Organization tells Brownfield while the FFA accepts support from generous donors and sponsors in agriculture, it does not and cannot advocate the views for any donor or sponsor.   FFA says it has received a Congressional inquiry about one of its sponsors, and the organization intends to cooperate fully.  

Mann and Smith are former members of the National FFA Organization.