As the 2009 corn harvest gets underway, farmers are beginning to think about purchasing seed for next year's corn crop. And this year they will have the opportunity to participate in the Stine Seed Program, which will allow farmers to purchase Stine brand seed corn from local FFA chapters, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to state and local programming.

This extraordinary project is designed to raise nearly $4 million towards the completion of the FFA Enrichment Center located at Ankeny, just north of Des Moines in central Iowa. The Stine Seed Program was established through the generosity of Stine Seed Company founder, Harry Stine.

This program is a win-win for everyone

"The simplicity of this program is tremendous," says Ron Zelle, ag education instructor and FFA adviser at Nashua Plainfield Community Schools. "Our students get experience, the farmer gets a great product, our chapter is given dollars and our FFA Enrichment Center is completed. It's win-win for everyone."

The seed corn provided by Stine will be fully serviced and supported through the Stine sales and agronomic network. The 12 corn hybrids available through the program, including eight Stine VT Triple hybrids and four Stine Roundup Ready Corn 2 hybrids, will be sold by local FFA members through March 1, 2010.

A student incentive program has been established through the generous support of Tractor Supply Company. TSC is donating $5,000 cash to be awarded to students and chapters who outshine the rest and excel with this program. Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will also award ten $500 scholarships to students participating in this important and essential program.

Contact your local FFA chapter to buy seed

The FFA Enrichment Center is under construction on the Des Moines Area Community College campus in Ankeny and will serve as the hub for Iowa's youth and ag community. The 57,000 square foot center is designed to provide advanced leadership programming using unique teaching tools and resources including greenhouses, computer and science labs and fiber optic connectivity for long-distance learning. The geothermal, state-of-the-art center is an attribute to the future of agriculture and the evolution of technology.

Growers interested in purchasing seed, should contact their local FFA Chapter for details. For more information, call the Stine Seed Program coordinators at 712-249-7277 or go to www.iowaffafoundation.org.