Farm Credit Associations Donate $17,500 to State FFA Associations
Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Horizon Farm Credit – the Farm Credit Associations serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland – made a recent collaborative donation totaling $17,500 to the State FFA Associations for Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland in honor of Give FFA Day, taking place on February 26, 2026 during National FFA Week.
National FFA Week (February 21-28, 2026) serves as a dedicated period to amplify the organization’s impact in developing future leaders and advancing agricultural education on a national level. Give FFA Day is a 24-hour fundraising endeavor that takes place annually during FFA Week to support the next generation of agricultural leaders. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Horizon Farm Credit are thrilled to provide this joint donation during Give FFA Day to help advance the efforts of Virginia FFA, West Virginia FFA and Maryland FFA. The three Farm Credit Associations recognize the importance of FFA in their communities and are pleased to sponsor and attend local FFA programs and events throughout the year, as well.
Paul Franklin, CEO of Colonial Farm Credit, shared, “It’s an honor to support FFA and its mission to develop leaders in agriculture. FFA is ‘near and dear’ to my heart, having served as a chapter officer, and competed in public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and crops judging. The skills, leadership, and relationships fostered by FFA ensure that our rural communities have a sustainable and thriving future.”
“FFA is an organization that is incredibly special to many of us here at Farm Credit of the Virginias. Many of our team members, including myself, have fond memories of wearing the blue jacket and competing in various FFA contests, so we are proud to be able to support the dedication of this organization to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said Pete Cypret, CEO of Farm Credit of the Virginias.
“Supporting the next generation of agriculturalists is core to the Farm Credit mission,” said Tom Truitt, CEO of Horizon Farm Credit. “FFA continues to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and hands on experiences they need to strengthen the future of agriculture in our region and beyond. We’re proud to partner with fellow Farm Credit Associations by investing in the students who will lead our industry forward.”
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
About Colonial Farm Credit
Colonial Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. The cooperative has over 6,100 customers and $902.3 million in loans outstanding, with 13 offices serving eastern Virginia and southern Maryland.
About Farm Credit of the Virginias
Farm Credit of the Virginias provides over $2.4 billion dollars in financing to more than 12,500 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners throughout Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland. Farm Credit is a cooperative capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural homeowners and businesses that borrow from them. In fact, as part of a nationwide network they are the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States and have been for over 100 years. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and for facilitating and sharing knowledge and resources through the Farm Credit Knowledge Center.
About Horizon Farm Credit
Horizon Farm Credit is a member-owned agricultural lending cooperative, providing consistent and reliable financing and related services to full- and part-time farmers, agricultural-related businesses, and rural landowners. The Association serves 100 counties across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Association has more than 23,000 members and over $7.7 billion in loans outstanding. Learn more at horizonfc.com.