Students from across the United States recently applied the marketing communications principles they learned from Garst Seed Company’s classroom curriculum to develop advertising and public relations campaigns that helped seven FFA chapters earn top honors and nearly $6,000 in the company’s annual commercial competition.

This year’s theme was “America’s Farmland. Today’s Solution to Tomorrow’s Energy Needs.”

“Ethanol and other renewable fuels are generating a great amount of excitement in agriculture, and Garst has a long-term commitment to develop seed products and technologies for biofuels,” says Lori Thomas, communications manager for Garst. “We thought our theme was especially appropriate considering the tremendous impact renewable fuels may have in agriculture and the potential role biofuels may have as a major energy source for the entire nation.”

The Garst commercial program has two components – (1) a curriculum on marketing communications and public relations for use in the classroom and (2) competition to create advertising and a public relations campaign about agriculture.

FFA chapters submitted entries in the print, radio and television advertising categories, as well as the new public relations category. Garst donated $750 to the winning chapters in each division. Second- and third-place prizes of $500 and $250, respectively, are typically awarded in each of the categories. An additional $500 was awarded for the Best of Show.

This year’s winners include:

Print Category

First Place Chariton FFA Chapter, Chariton, Iowa
Second Place Oregon-Clay FFA Chapter, Oregon, Ohio
Third Place Fairfield FFA Chapter, Leesburg, Ohio

Television Category

First Place Centre FFA Chapter, Lost Springs, Kan.
Second Place Liberty Union FFA Chapter, Baltimore, Ohio
Third Place Janesville Craig FFA Chapter, Janesville, Wis.

Radio Category

First Place Sweet Springs FFA Chapter, Sweet Springs, Mo.

Public Relations Category

First Place Chariton FFA Chapter, Chariton, Iowa
Second Place Centre FFA Chapter, Lost Springs, Kan.
Third Place Oregon-Clay FFA Chapter, Oregon, Ohio

The Chariton FFA Chapter also received the Best of Show award for its outstanding public relations campaign.

In addition to the monetary donations, the winning chapters were recognized at the 2006 National FFA Convention, Oct. 25 - 28, in Indianapolis, Ind. Garst also awarded individual prizes to six students who were part of FFA teams who submitted entries.

“The students have participated in the program for a couple of years, and interest continues to grow,” says Susan Greubel, adviser of the Chariton FFA Chapter in Chariton, Iowa. “The PR component of the program was new, and the students weren’t as familiar with this area of communications, but they delved into, learned a lot and really enjoyed it. We weren’t planning on attending the convention this year, but after the students did so well in the competition, we were able to use a portion of the prize money to help pay for the trip.”

Thomas adds, “Each year the level of creativity and effort put forward in developing the entries is phenomenal. We’re proud to see such dedication to agriculture from the students and the advisers’ commitment to teach marketing communications to their students.”

Ag Communications Program for the Classroom

FFA chapters from across the nation have used Garst’s agriculture communications curriculum in their classrooms. The program covers the basic principles of marketing communications and provides students several hands-on classroom learning activities. The commercial competition allows students to apply the principles they learn in the classroom to develop communications to targeted audiences.

Ag instructors who are interested in learning more about the Garst FFA commercial competition may send a general e-mail inquiry to askgarst@garstseedco.com. Garst will announce the guidelines and new theme line for the 2007 curriculum and competition in the spring of 2007. Updated materials and the 2006 winning entries will be available on Garst’s Website at www.garstseed.com.

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides innovative seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products. For more information about Garst products, contact your local Garst ProSeller or visit Garst’s Website at www.garstseed.com. 

Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2005 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs more than 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.