GROWMARK Foundation & Builta Family Award FFA Jackets to 25 Recipients
The GROWMARK Foundation and the Builta family have awarded FFA jackets to 25 new students this Fall. The program stems from the family of Mike Builta, a former GROWMARK vice president and long-time employee, who passed away unexpectedly in 2019. To honor his memory, the GROWMARK Foundation has partnered with Builta’s family to provide jackets to 25 students.
“My family and I have enjoyed reading all the student’s applications over the years and what it means to each of them to be a part of FFA and proudly wear the FFA jacket. We are grateful for our partnership with the GROWMARK Foundation to be able to continue to honor Mike in this way.”
Students submitted an essay explaining what an FFA jacket means to them and their goals as an FFA member.
The 2023 recipients are:
- Haylee Dean, Blue Ridge FFA, Farmer City, IL
- Paytyn Grandfield, Meridian-Macon FFA, Blue Mound, IL
- Maliah Harris, Nokomis FFA, Nokomis, IL
- Kennadie Johannsen, Nokomis FFA, Nokomis, IL
- Alexandra Jones, Sandoval FFA, Junction City, IL
- Meagan Lotz, South Central FFA, Farina , IL
- Cade Luginbuhl, Normal FFA, Bloomington, IL
- Sage Mahler, Serena FFA, Earlville, IL
- Tyson Morgan, Woodlawn FFA, Mount Vernon, IL
- Charlotte Postma, Peotone FFA, Peotone, IL
- Emma Reichert, Normal FFA, Bloomington, IL
- Zander Reynolds, South Central FFA, St. Peter, IL
- Madelyne Rhodes, Nokomis FFA, Nokomis, IL
- Julie Rupp, Tremont FFA, Tremont, IL
- Hannah Severson, Newark FFA, Newark, IL
- Drew Smithers, Meridian-Macon FFA, Blue Mound, IL
- Hannah Spellious, Streator FFA, Streator, IL
- Montana Stieghorst, Tremont FFA, Tremont, IL
- Gavin Storey, Newark FFA, Newark, IL
- Addison Tebbe, Central Breese FFA, Breese, IL
- Willow Toenniges, Meridian-Macon FFA, Decatur, IL
- Olivia Whitaker, Tremont FFA, Tremont, IL
- Amiya Ray, Sandoval FFA, Centralia, IL
- Taylor Kater, Meridian-Macon FFA, Macon, IL
- Rylee Musgrave, Fairfield FFA, Fairfield, IL
Builta was raised on a family farm near Bellflower, Illinois. He was an active FFA member and lifelong supporter of agricultural education. He held GROWMARK System management roles at Christian County Farmers Supply Company in Taylorville, Illinois, and GRAINCO FS in Ottawa, Illinois, before becoming GROWMARK vice president of Energy and Logistics in 2018.
The GROWMARK Foundation was formally incorporated in 2005 and supports 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organizations. The Foundation is focused on programs and activities that support: the vitality of the industry of agriculture; agriculture education and consumer understanding of agriculture’s contributions to society and the economy; agricultural leadership development; and education about the benefits of the cooperative way of doing business. The GROWMARK System has been involved in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including youth and young leader education and development and scholarships, for decades.
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