Governor
Christine Todd Whitman was presented with the Honorary
American FFA Degree today by officers of the New
Jersey State FFA organization accompanied by state
Agriculture Secretary Art Brown, Jr. The award
is the highest bestowed by the National FFA Organization
to recognize those teachers and other adults who
have given exceptional service to youth, agricultural
education and the FFA through their support of
agriculture. Presenting the medallion and certificate
were New Jersey State FFA President Nicole Steward,
Vice President Keith Wassall, State Sentinel Devin
Daniels, Executive Committee Representative Paulette
Nyiri and Allentown FFA Chapter President Liz Lustgarten. "The
American FFA Degree reflects a national recognition
of Governor Whitman's unwavering commitment to
the Garden State's thriving agriculture industry
and her determination to keep the industry strong
and viable for future generations of New Jersey
farm families," Brown said. He noted that Whitman
has taken part in a number of FFA events over the
years and set aside time to meet with both State
and National FFA officers to discuss the FFA's
goals and make sure FFA members understand the
continuing importance of agriculture to New Jersey's
economic and aesthetic well-being. Among the many
accomplishments that earned Whitman the Honorary
American FFA degree are the recent creation of
the Garden State Trust Fund through which to fund
preservation of a million acres of farmland and
open space; her support for the relocation of the
State FFA Organization to the Department of Agriculture;
and her support for recent legislation which authorized
state grants to fund the purchase of computer equipment
and software needed to improve the quality of instructional
programs for more than half the agriculture education
students around the state.  Her nomination for
the award cited Whitman's involvement in policies
that will maintain a viable agricultural industry,
such as strengthening the right-to-farm legislation
and expanding the provisions of the Farmland Assessment
Act, as well as her clear commitment to FFA youth
activities and accomplishments. Governor Christie
received her Honorary American FFA degree from
(left to right) Agriculture Secretary Art Brown,
Jr.; State FFA Sentinel Devin Daniels; Allentown
FFA President Liz Lustgarten; State FFA President
Nichole Steward; State FFA Vice President Keith
Wassall; and State FFA Executive Committee Chairperson
Paulette Nyiri.
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