Sowing Success With FFA
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Brevant® seeds is committed to the future of the seed industry. The prioritization of education at the local level, expansion of retailer access to elite genetics and bringing next-level traits to the marketplace only scratch the surface of the investments made by Brevant seeds. The Turn the Bag Blue & Gold program is another way in which Brevant seeds is contributing to industry advancements.
In partnership with the National FFA Organization, Brevant seeds sponsors the program and provides students across the Corn Belt with the opportunity to learn about seed sales, gain industry experience and fundraise for their local FFA chapter. In the spring semester, multiple chapters are selected to be part of the program; and in the fall, they start selling special blue-and-gold bags of Brevant seeds for the following season. From the start, local retail sales agronomists from Brevant seeds work with the FFA chapter and a local retailer to train students in sales and provide product knowledge.
Here is what some of this year’s participating FFA chapters are saying about the program.
“At first, it was a little intimidating to some of the students as this was their first experience in sales or agronomy. But their confidence just flourished as they started actively contributing to the industry. It’s a really cool, hands-on experience for them to learn more about sales and ag business. As we’ve been working with our Brevant seeds retail sales agronomist, Evan Giacometti, the students have found him to be very helpful. He’s been a great resource. It doesn’t feel like we’re alone in this. It’s a real partnership.” — Bailey Roden, advisor for Hugoton FFA Chapter, Hugoton, Kansas
The Hugoton FFA Chapter uses its earnings from the Turn the Bag Blue & Gold program to go on trips for competitions, purchase shirts for the chapter and more.
“We’ve been working with Steven Senyak from the Brevant seeds team on the program this year. He has been so easy to work with and he has done a great job educating us. We’ve had fun with him. When we began training, he had the students do mock sales with one of the guys from our local elevator. They showed the students real situations that they would experience in the field. It really prepared the kids for what they were getting into in an exciting way.” — Doug Hofer, advisor for Dupree FFA Chapter, Dupree, South Dakota
“The 2024 selling season was our first year doing the program. We’ve worked with Caleb Quinlan from the Brevant seeds team to get students prepared. He brought in some local dealers from Nutrien to teach the kids about prospecting customers and making the sale. I’m always looking for opportunities to put our FFA members in real-life situations, so this has been a wonderful way for the students to get real-life experience while fundraising for the chapter. I think it has also opened their eyes to different career opportunities they can have in the future.” — Josh Bondy, Paris FFA Chapter, Paris, Missouri
Paris FFA Chapter members (from left) Luke Ensor and Reid Ragsdale worked with Caleb Quinlan, retail sales agronomist for Brevant seeds in Missouri, to deliver a special thank-you to farmers who bought from the program for the 2024 season.
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