Idaho FFA supporters, through their contributions to the Idaho FFA Foundation, supply numerous FFA jackets annually for FFA members.
“The Gift of Blue program is a program essentially making sure that everyone can get the FFA jacket. We never want money to be a factor for students not being able to join FFA,” says Cassidey Plum, Idaho FFA Foundation intern.
The Idaho FFA Foundation Gift of Blue program started in 2019 and has been a wonderful addition to the Idaho FFA program.
“We have been able to give more jackets away to students every year and are proud to see the support for this program grow exponentially. In 2019 we gave 47 jackets to 24 chapters, in 2020 we gave 68 jackets to 26 chapters and in 2021, 73 jackets were given to 28 chapters. The chapters and students supported are from north to south in Idaho and from east to west,” says Plum.
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FFA official dress is a uniting factor of membership that brings pride in membership and starts a standard of professionalism for events where it is required.
“I still remember when I got my first jacket. You immediately become part of the FFA family; it opens up the door for several opportunities. A lot of students find their passion in the jacket and eventually find their future careers in it. I can say that I’ve had that experience as well,” says Plum, who served as the 2019-20 Idaho FFA State Secretary.
“The power of the FFA jacket is in how it unites students from any walk of life,” says Clara-Leigh Evans, Idaho FFA executive director.
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One student recipient of the Gift of Blue wrote, “My dad was in FFA when he was in high school, and I planned to wear his jacket. This summer it was destroyed in a house fire. I was so excited to hear I could get a new one. Thank you for supporting us with jackets so we can experience new things through FFA. I hope to pass this jacket on to my kids someday.”
Agriculture teachers can nominate students they see in the classroom that might need a jacket and fill out a simple application online through the Idaho FFA Foundation website.
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Sam Hoffman, Troy FFA adviser, recalls an experience one of his students had when she received an FFA jacket through the Gift of Blue program. “We had a junior come in from out of state and they felt like, ‘Oh, I’m too old to be in FFA. I don’t know all the things these younger members know.’ She was one student that was on the fence about being an active member, but I had gotten the Gift of Blue for her. She ended up being an officer her senior year and created such a positive impact in our chapter. It was nice to see that. It was almost like a confidence boost for her,” Hoffman says.
Hoffman says the FFA jacket is pretty important for students wanting to feel like they’re part of something or part of the “family.”
“The jacket symbolizes a lot. I think the big thing is just joining a big community of people that are passionate about agriculture,” says Plum.
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Funds for the Gift of Blue program come from individual donors. The Idaho FFA Foundation has a link on their website that makes donations quick and simple. The cost to sponsor one jacket is $125.
“It’s one of our programs that’s very unique, and we love being able to give students that blue jacket. If we get more money, then more jackets will be awarded. However, if someone wants a jacket, we will find a way to get it to them,” Plum says.
