The North Tama FFA will work together to design and paint the Big A as part of Pioneer’s challenge to promote their A-series of soybean. Photo submitted.

North Tama FFA will compete against 15 other schools in the Pioneer Brand A-Series Soybeans Big A Challenge and the students will design a large letter A for the upcoming 2019 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. August 28-30.

For this challenge, the FFA students wrote an essay and then make a design to decorate a seven-foot letter A to promote the Pioneer A Series soybean. Students created the design and sent the design in and were selected as one of 15 schools in Iowa. The actual A will be shipped to North Tama in the coming weeks along with $200 to buy paint, brushes and other items to decorate the A until May. Then, the students will send it back for the 2019 Farm Progress Show.

“Back in October, we were contacted by Pioneer dealers in the area about this contest,” Matt Cibula, North Tama FFA Advisor said. “I read about it and asked the chapter if they would be interested in this ‘Big A Challenge’. They agreed and we got area reps in here to learn more about these soybeans. Our essay was how Pioneer fit into the community and what they can do to enthuse young people with agriculture.”

According to a press release submitted by Pioneer, FFA chapters were selected based on the essay “highlighting how A-Series soybeans benefit farmers” and the sample design of their Big A statue. Chapters will decorate the Big A statues through May, with the top three winners awarded prize money. $2,500 will be given for first place, $1,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place at the 2019 Farm Progress Show. Pioneer also stated the public also will vote for their favorites on the Pioneer Facebook and Twitter pages, with the winning chapter receiving the People’s Choice Award and a special prize for its members.

“We’ve worked in class coming up with our design and ideas,” Cibula said. “Carter Pokorny, our Chapter President, sat down with me to write the essay. Now is the big part where students need to help with painting. They’ll be excited to hear that. We have 20-25 kids that will be helping before or after school to make this look nice. This a great chapter activity for leadership building and that’s what I’m getting after most.”

Check back with The Traer Star-Clipper for updates on the letter A design, including a final look at North Tama FFA’s final product.