FFA Chapters
Use Innovative Microsoft Solution
to Delve Deeper Into Agriculture |
INDIANAPOLIS
(Monday, March 11, 2019/National FFA Organization) Fifty
FFA chapters have received Microsoft FarmBeats Student Kits as
part of a collaboration between the National FFA Organization
and Microsoft Corp.
For the FFA Blue 365 Challenge, chapters were asked to apply for
the FarmBeats Kits by sharing how they would utilize the kits.
The FFA Blue 365 Challenge and the use of the Microsoft
FarmBeats Student Kits are key components to transform learning
and help with the development of essential digital skills,
said Christine White, director leadership, education, assessment
and development at the National FFA Organization.
The easy-to-use FarmBeats kit includes preconfigured Microsoft
Azure cloud services and a Raspberry Pi with soil moisture, light,
ambient temperature, and humidity sensors to collect data. The
data is then visualized in an online dashboard that provides insights
to help students. In addition to the kits, FFA and Microsoft are
working together to create activity guides and resources to help
chapters get started with using the technology.
We are inspired by the innovative ideas from FFA students
across the country and look forward to seeing how they utilize
FarmBeats to help them drive innovation on their farms, sustain
and renew our planet, and enrich their communities, said
Mary Snapp, corporate vice president and lead for Microsoft Philanthropies.
The FarmBeats Kits are part of a collaboration announced last
year between National FFA and Microsoft to bring innovative technology,
science, research, and entrepreneurship to the classrooms of the
more than 650,000 FFA student members nationwide.
Many of our students have a strong interest in agriculture,
food security and sustainability but are suburban students,
Wes Crawford from Sutherlin FFA in Oregon said. This technology
will connect those students with those who are more production-focused
and allow them to explore areas of interest.
Several chapters that received FarmBeats kits have already integrated
computer coding into their curriculum and are excited to see how
the kits can complement their coursework and help build confidence
as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Technology is shaping agriculture in several ways now, and
it is only getting better every progressing day, Larry Plapp,
advisor at the Badger FFA Chapter in Wisconsin said. I applied
for this kit because of a student who presented his supervised
agricultural experience using a processor called a Raspberry Pi
that watered plants. I had never heard of a Raspberry Pi until
this semester. My student developed something very similar to
what this kit does. He demonstrated how this small computer was
able to turn off and change water flow rates to water a plant
automatically. This got me thinking even more about the potential
on a larger scale.
|
Oklahoma
Chapters who have received the FarmBeats kits:
Collinsville FFA Chapter
Okmulgee FFA Chapter
Stillwater FFA Chapter
Wellston FFA Chapter |
To learn more
about FFA Blue 365, visit FFA.org/blue365.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth
and career success training through agricultural education to 669,989
student members who belong to one of 8,630 local FFA chapters throughout
the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization
is also supported by 459,514 alumni members in 2,236 alumni chapters
throughout the U.S.
# # #
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of
669,989 student members as part of 8,630 local FFA chapters in all
50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization
is supported by 459,514 alumni members in 2,236 local FFA Alumni
chapters throughout the U.S. The FFA mission is to make a positive
difference in the lives of students by developing their potential
for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through
agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under
a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and
it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The
U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction
for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.
For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org
and on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization
blog.
About National FFA Foundation The National FFA Foundation builds
partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations
and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA
member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future
of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees
composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA
Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization.
About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports
FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more,
visit FFA.org/Give. |
From Jennifer
Hamlin 3/12/2019
Marketing
and Communications
National FFA Organization
KMeyer@FFA.org
317-802-4205 @ffa_media |
|