When does a jacket stand for faith, honor and pride? When it’s an FFA blue jacket. Local Culver’s restaurants, along with Culver’s Support Center, worked with the National FFA Organization, which develops its members’ unique talents and explores their interests through agricultural education, to donate over $30,000 to the organization’s blue jacket program.

Culver’s blue jacket donation is part of its Thank You, Farmers program, which raises awareness about the importance of the agricultural industry and supports future ag leaders.

Culver’s donation will cover the cost of 238 blue jackets for FFA members across the country who may otherwise not be able to purchase one. The blue corduroy jackets are the official dress of FFA and unite a network of more than 649,000 future agricultural leaders across the country, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“For FFA members who have such a passion for agriculture, wearing the blue jacket is a sign of their commitment to the future of agriculture,” says Jessie Corning, senior marketing manager for Culver’s. “We’re proud to provide jackets to these deserving students.”

Following student nominations made by FFA advisors, Culver's is working with the National FFA Foundation to match deserving members with local restaurants. Later this year, the blue jackets will be presented to select students.

“My first FFA event was last year. I didn’t have a jacket, so I had to borrow one. While it felt great to represent my chapter and FFA, it wasn’t right. I was wearing a jacket that didn’t fit quite right and with a name that was not my own,” says Joza M., an FFA student member. “Thanks to the support of the Culver’s program, I will be able to wear my own jacket at the FFA state convention this year.”

To date, Thank You, Farmers has raised over $1 million in support of the National FFA Organization and Foundation, local FFA chapters and a variety of local agricultural organizations. To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit culvers.com/farmers.

Culver's has restaurants in 24 states, including five locations in Kansas, 10 in Nebraska and 31 in Missouri. It has headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wis.

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 649,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is supported by 225,891 alumni members in 1,934 local FFA alumni chapters throughout the U.S. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Source: Culver's Franchising Organization