Valent U.S.A. Receives FFA Distinguished Service Citation

November 1, 2019

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – The National FFA Organization has awarded Valent U.S.A. a Distinguished Service Citation. The award recognizes Valent’s outstanding contributions to FFA and agricultural education at the national level.

Valent has supported the National FFA Organization since 2002. The company focuses on agricultural education and youth leadership development. In addition, Valent supports programs such as the National FFA Proficiency Awards and National Convention workshops.

Valent also created a corporate alumni chapter. This program engages employees and strengthens ongoing partnerships with FFA. Furthermore, the company is working with FFA to develop educational resources for teachers. These resources highlight innovative tools and practices that support sustainable agriculture.

“We are proud of our partnership with National FFA and our shared purpose to cultivate bright, innovative leaders in agriculture,” said Matt Plitt, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Valent U.S.A. “This Distinguished Service Award represents our commitment to advancing agricultural education and preparing future leaders in our industry.”

Supporting Future Agricultural Leaders

Valent received the award during an onstage ceremony at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The National FFA Convention & Expo is one of the largest student conventions in the world.

Its mission is to develop, educate and inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders. In addition, Valent supported a celebration of 50 years of women’s involvement in FFA during the event.

Women leaders from Valent and past FFA members attended the ceremony. They accepted the award and shared industry insights with students. Farm Credit Alliance and BASF were also recognized as 2019 Distinguished Service Citation recipients.

Encouraging Sustainable Agriculture Conversations

Dawn Refsell, Seed Protection Product Development Manager, participated in the #SpeakAg Dialogue panel on Oct. 31. The session focused on encouraging growers to make sustainable choices.

Students and industry experts discussed soil health, sustainability benefits and sustainable production practices. Refsell explained that soil health incentives can vary widely from farm to farm.

She emphasized that successful adoption depends on several factors. These include profitability, measurable outcomes and long-term benefits for future generations managing the land.

“It’s energizing to spend the week engaging with FFA students,” said Refsell. “As a past FFA member who now works in the industry, I feel incredibly lucky to see the passion of these young leaders and share my experiences.”

About National FFA

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education. It serves 669,989 student members across 8,630 local chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The organization is also supported by 344,239 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters nationwide.

About Valent U.S.A. LLC

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Valent U.S.A. LLC develops and markets products across the United States, Canada and Mexico. These solutions advance sustainable agriculture, protect crops and improve food quality.

Valent products also enhance crop yields, beautify the environment and safeguard public health. For more information, visit valent.com or explore sustainability efforts at valentsustainablesolutions.com.