Smithfield Foods sponsored the Environmental/ Natural Resources Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention, which allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

The Environmental/ Natural Resources Career Development Event is a competitive activity that focuses on testing students' problem solving and decision making skills in environmental and natural resources. These areas concentrate on soil profiles, water and air quality, waste management, environmental analysis, and use of global positioning units. Each team competed at local and state levels for the privilege of representing their home state at the National FFA Convention. Four members of the Oley Valley FFA were recognized as the top Environmental and Natural Resources team in the Nation: Taylor Helbig, Amelia Howe, Kellsey Turner and Damian Oswald.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 506,000 student members - all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture - as part of local FFA chapters across the United States. 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. Over 50,000 FFA members and guests attended the 82nd National FFA Convention.

This year, Smithfield Foods helped make a difference around the world once again, by sponsoring and promoting the World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) through our IOCs in the USA and abroad. WWMD is as an outreach program coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association, which builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. WWMD is celebrated annually between September 18-October 18, when people around the globe are encouraged to take water samples from local lakes, rivers and streams. An easy-to-use test kit enables anyone to sample for a core set of water quality parameters including temperature, acidity (pH), clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen (DO). Results are shared with participating communities around the globe through the WWMD Web site.

In Romania
For the second consecutive year, at the initiative of, and together with representatives from Smithfield Ferme and Smithfield Prod, 75 pupils from Timiş County participated in activities of water quality monitoring and testing in the region, within the international program – World Water Monitoring Day.

The participants in this year’s World Water Monitoring Day included 6th-9th grade pupils of the Theoretical High School from Gătaia and pupils of the Utvin School. With the help of specific instruments and proper substances, validated by the International Water Association (IWA) and made available by Smithfield representatives, the pupils, equipped as small chemists, were able to test a series of basic parameters such as: water pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and water temperature.

Together with the representatives of the Mayoralty of Gătaia, the high school principal, Mr. Radu Bontescu, representatives of a local NGO, “Prietenii naturii” (Nature’s friends), and under the guidance of the environmental department of Smithfield Ferme and the high school chemistry department, the pupils of the Theoretical High School from Gătaia could learn about the importance of protecting the environment.

Starting with 2009, the monitoring action, which has been so far conducted every year on September 18th, could be developed on a longer period, as of March 22nd (International Water Day) until December 31st. In 2008, over 5,000 localities around the world have been monitored, approximately 60% of which are in the USA. The 2008 Romanian participants in this educational program aiming to inform about a clean environment included groups of pupils from Maramureş, Teleorman, Galaţi and Hunedoara.

The water monitoring program is developed under the aegis of the International Water Association (IWA), being supported by the US Environmental Agency and a large number of companies recognized worldwide, including Smithfield Foods. The program’s aim for 2012 is to reach the number of one million persons participating in water monitoring activities in their localities.

Smithfield Prod partnered with the Utvin Village school, and sponsored 35 pupils and a biology teacher to conduct the monitoring tests. All children received participation certificates.

In Poland
AGRI PLUS sponsored monitoring tests in 2 locations in Poland:

1. CommunityWierzchowo -North-West Poland- 2 Agri sow farms -10 000 sows (Zabin andZeńsko farms)
   
2. CommunityJeżewo -Notrh Poland-Agri sow farm -9000 sows ( Krąplewice farm)

WWMD in Poland was supported by local authorities, schoolsheadmasters, and local media. 70 local school students aged 15-16 participated. The students and teachers received from AGRI PLUS special t-shirts with the WWMD logo and the AGRI logo. The schools also received gifts as a thank you for participating in the WWMD. Local mediainformed about the water testing, it's quality and AGRI PLUS. At the meetings with students after the tests were performed, representatives of AGRI PLUS – Piotr  Pilarski and Mirosław Dackiewicz – conveyed extensive information aboutthe pro-environment activities of AGRI PLUS and about key aspects of enviornmental management.