Rural TV, IHigh.com, Alltech Build Digital Distribution System For FFA

Online, September 4, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The National FFA Organization, Rural TV, iHigh.com and Alltech have joined together to enable FFA to deliver educational materials and programs to middle- and high-school students across the U.S. through TV and Internet broadcasts.

FFA programming can now be accessed 24 hours a day by visiting iHigh.com/FFA. Programming includes state FFA convention sessions, National FFA Convention & Expo sessions, coverage of the 2012 FFA Alumni Development Conference and local FFA events.

"The new digital distribution options will allow more students, FFA members, teachers and FFA alumni to participate in major activities, such as state and national FFA conventions. FFA members who can't attend those events will be able to share and benefit from educational and motivational presentations at the events," said Dwight Armstrong, chief executive officer of the National FFA Organization. "Rural TV, Alltech and iHigh understand the value of helping FFA build an educational pipeline for future workers and innovators in agriculture while also building leaders that strengthen local communities."

The digital delivery system will provide a compelling window into the world of FFA, agricultural education and agriculture by sharing activities and accomplishments of FFA members with parents, community leaders, consumers, business and industry and the general public. It will make the FFA story available to a global audience; anyone with an Internet connection will have intimate access to FFA educational programs and opportunities for students.

In addition to playing a key role in the Internet streaming, RFD-TV has long provided gavel-to-gavel coverage of the annual National FFA Convention & Expo on its broadcast channels. The 2012 National FFA Convention & Expo runs Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis.

"We are all committed to help FFA grow so that the organization can achieve greater opportunities and reach more students," said Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of Rural Media Group, creator of Rural TV. "It's exciting to see this entire team focused on the same goal of helping young people succeed."

"The potential impact of this agreement is creating a lot of excitement," said Billy Frey, senior vice president of agricultural content at iHigh.com. "Alltech and iHigh have been able to work with 12 states to broadcast their state FFA conventions online utilizing this technology, and more chapters are signing up daily."

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 540,379 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,489 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.