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A West Virginia University educator who has earned some of the top teaching and service honors in his discipline will earn another impressive accolade this week.

The National FFA Organization has selected WVU’s Stacy A. Gartin to receive a special VIP Citation for making significant contributions to agricultural education. The VIP Citation is one of the most prestigious awards a person may receive for supporting FFA and its programs. Gartin will be honored during an onstage presentation at the 83rd National FFA Convention, held Oct. 20-23 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Gartin, a professor of agricultural and extension education in WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design, designed the PhD program for agricultural and extension education and the PhD in human and community development at WVU. He has been an instructor for undergraduate and graduate courses for the last 26 years and has been recognized as a WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher. Gartin has served two different three-year terms on the National FFA Board of Directors and served as an Adult Consultant to the National FFA Officer Nominating Committee. He has coordinated the West Virginia career development events (CDEs) for 25 years and judged for regional, state, and national scholastic CDEs. Gartin also served two terms as Eastern Region president of the American Association of Agricultural Educators.

The VIP Citation recognizes the dedicated individuals who contribute to the FFA mission of student success through their hard work and cooperation. Without such strong and outstanding commitment, FFA would not be able to help build strong character in its members, who in turn build strong families, communities and industries.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 520,284 student members (and counting)—all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture—as part of 7,429 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988 in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st United States Congress, and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.