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NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TO RECEIVE FFA HONOR
Secretary Charles M. Kuperus to Accept Honorary American FFA Degree in Louisville
 

For Immediate Release: October 26, 2004

Contact:

Jeff Beach
(609)292-8896
jeffrey.beach@ag.state.nj.us

 

 

 

(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.