(TRENTON) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture
Charles M. Kuperus will receive the Honorary American
FFA Degree during the organization’s National
Convention, to be held October 27-30 in Louisville,
Kentucky.
Secretary Kuperus was nominated by the members of the National FFA Board
of Directors for his efforts in supporting and promoting agricultural
education, which includes the science, business, and technology of plant
and animal production, the environment and natural resources.
The FFA award recognizes “highly dedicated individuals…who
have gone beyond the valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary
long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in
a new generation of agriculturalists.”
FFA is a national youth organization of more than 464,000 student members
preparing for careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
There are 7,194 local chapters in the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. The group strives to make a positive difference in the
lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal
growth and career success.
As Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Charles M. Kuperus oversees
programs that affect the state’s 9,600 farms. These farms and food-related
businesses contribute an estimated $64 billion annually to the state’s
economy. Along with preserving farmland and keeping agriculture economically
viable, Secretary Kuperus has made equipping the next generation of farmers
and welcoming new people into agriculture one of the pillars which the
Department views as necessary to sustain agriculture in New Jersey. |