In June at the 85th annual Future Farmers of America Convention in Orlando, the Florida FFA Association announced plans to build a new $1.5 million headquarters building on the campus of the Florida Farm Bureau in Gainesville.

Most of the construction will be funded by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and the Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance company.  The development will include a 6,000-square-foot building with an auditorium, conference rooms, office space and storage areas for the FFA.  The plan is to complete the building in 2014.

The Florida FFA Association provides resources and support to more than 300 local FFA chapters with more than 15,000 middle and high school student members.  FFA members participate in agricultural education programs at their schools.

Coming in November, the Florida FFA Foundation will host its annual Firetower Run-A-Muck on Saturday, November 23.  The event includes a 5K run/walk, which is a road race, and the mud run, which is a trail run with obstacles and water.  The run is held on the beautiful grounds of the Leadership Training Center in Haines City.  If you feel up to the challenge, visit the event website at http://www.floridaffafoundation.org/firetower_run-a-muck.htm, to register and show your support for this worthy organization.