COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

New York Association of Agricultural Educators
Ithaca, NY · EIN 161489290 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Small ($100K-$1M) · nysffa.org
revenue
$250K
expenses
$106K
net assets
$383K
employees
0
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

The purpose of NYAAE shall be to promote and improve the teaching of agriculture.

profile · synthesized from sources

Organization dedicated to advancing agricultural education in New York State by supporting teachers, students, and school-based programs. Promotes leadership development, career readiness, and inclusive learning opportunities in agriculture, food, and natural resources. Works in partnership with Cornell University and the New York State Education Department to strengthen educational programs across urban, suburban, and rural communities.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

FFA Chapter Support and Leadership Development
Provides oversight, professional development, and program resources to FFA chapters across New York State, including leadership training and competitive events
Grow-NY Youth Competition
Partnership program offering middle and high school students the opportunity to develop and pitch agricultural and food technology business ideas, with prize funding for top pitches
New York Youth Institute
Annual event at Cornell University where high school students research global food security challenges, present findings, and earn recognition as Borlaug Scholars
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • FFA and Agricultural Education Support 4 activities
    • Conferences, competitions, and awards for student engagement
      Organizes conferences, competitions, and awards programs—including the Grow-NY Youth Competition—to introduce students to careers in agriculture, food, and natural resources, with support for participation, pitching, and recognition.
    • Leadership development for students in agricultural education
      Delivers leadership development activities including public speaking, committee leadership, and collaborative problem-solving through FFA and other programs, providing career development opportunities to all enrolled secondary agricultural education students in New York State.
    • Statewide student enrollment and affiliation in FFA
      Administers a statewide program affiliation system that enrolls students in agricultural education programs as FFA members through chapter-level fees.
    • Support for FFA chapters and agricultural education programs
      Provides guidance, oversight, and administrative support for establishing and maintaining FFA chapters and agricultural education programs in middle and high schools across New York, including urban and rural areas, through dedicated program specialists and outreach initiatives.
  • Agricultural Producer Education & Support Networks 2 activities
    • Advocacy for agricultural education
      Advocates for the value of agricultural education as foundational to the success of the agriculture, food, and natural resource system in New York.
    • Informational content production for agricultural education
      Produces and shares informational videos about agricultural education and FFA to promote student leadership, personal growth, and career success.
  • Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
    • Agricultural education outreach in K-12 schools
      Delivers agricultural education programs to K-12 students and teachers across New York State through the NY Agriculture in the Classroom program and specialized initiatives in urban settings.
  • LGBTQ+ and Community-Based Educational Scholarships 1 activity
    • Funding for youth service and competition activities
      Funds one-day service events through Day of Service Mini-Grants of up to $400 and awards $2,000 to first-place and $1,000 to runner-up winners in the Grow-NY Youth Competition.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Professional development for agricultural educators
      Provides ongoing professional development and training support for agricultural educators across New York State, including through dedicated staff roles and collaboration with university teacher education programs such as Cornell University and SUNY Oswego.
  • Youth Global Leadership & Model UN Programs 1 activity
    • Youth innovation and global challenge programs
      Engages high school students in researching global challenges and developing innovative solutions through the New York Youth Institute program, offering public speaking practice, networking, recognition as Borlaug Scholars, and internship opportunities.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$250K
Contributions & grants$142K57%
Program service revenue$32K13%
Investment income$27K11%
Other revenue$49K
expenses
Total expenses$106K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$23K
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$383K
Cash$206K
Investments$177K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$383K
Liquid reserves43.3 mo
2 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +166.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 12
  • Carol Wight — Member Experience Chair
  • Chelsey Mahany — Secretary
  • Jeff Parnapy — Past President
  • Jen Phelps — Central Representative
  • Johanna Bossard — Advocacy Chair
  • Julia Hudyncia-Davis — President-Elect
  • Mandi Millen — Finance Chair
  • Mary Coolbaugh — Western Representative
  • Megan Friscia — Professional Development C
  • Melvin Phelps — Teacher Recruitment Chair
  • Renee Johnson — President
  • Stephanie Rhoades — Eastern Representative
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • Cato-Meridian School District Partner — Regional representative organization for central New York.
  • Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on agricultural science teacher education.
  • Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on the Grow-NY Youth Competition initiative.
  • Cornell University Partner — Hosts staff and supports outreach efforts for New York Agricultural Education Outreach and FFA.
  • Cornell University Partner — Hosts the New York Youth Institute at Cornell University in partnership with the Department of Global Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
  • Cornell University Partner — Partners with Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on agricultural education outreach.
  • DCMO Boces Partner — Regional representative organization for eastern New York.
  • Department of Global Development Partner — Hosts the New York Youth Institute program within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.
  • FFA Partner — Collaborates to establish FFA chapters as part of Agricultural Education Programs.
  • Grow-NY Partner — Co-hosts the Grow-NY Youth Competition for middle and high school students.
  • Marcus Whitman High School Partner — Regional representative organization for western New York.
  • NY FFA Alumni Network — Alumni organization represented on the NYAAE Executive Council.
  • NY State Education Department Government — State agency represented on the NYAAE Executive Council.
  • NYAAE Foundation Network — Represented on the NYAAE Executive Council through a designated representative.
  • NYS 4-H Partner — Partners in delivering the Grow-NY Youth Competition program.
  • NYS FFA Leadership Foundation Partner — Collaborates on FFA leadership development and programming.
  • National FFA Organization Network — Administers the Day of Service Mini-Grants program in partnership with state chapters.
  • National FFA Organization Network — Operates as a state affiliate of the National FFA Organization, implementing national membership policies at the state level.
  • New York Agriculture in the Classroom Partner — Partners in delivering the Grow-NY Youth Competition program.
  • New York FFA Network — Hosts and supports New York FFA as part of its mission.
  • New York FFA Partner — Collaborates on the Grow-NY Youth Competition for youth in agricultural education.
  • New York State Education Department Government — Collaborates with the New York State Education Department on agricultural education programs.
  • New York State Education Department Government — Works with state education authorities on career and technical education policy and implementation.
  • Oswegatchie Educational Center Partner — Partners in delivering agricultural education and camp programs.
  • RAENY Network — Represented on the NYAAE Executive Council through a designated representative.
  • SUNY Oswego Partner — Collaborates on vocational teacher education in agriculture.
  • SUNY Oswego Partner — Postsecondary institution represented on the NYAAE Executive Council.
  • Todd Lighthall Government — Executive Director of the New York FFA Leadership Training Foundation and contact for partnership inquiries.
  • World Food Prize Foundation Partner — Partners on the New York Youth Institute program, offering students the opportunity to become Borlaug Scholars and qualify for further opportunities through the World Food Prize network.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collaborative Capacity Building in Agricultural Education
    methodology: public-private-partnership
    By partnering with educational institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders, we strengthen the quality and reach of agricultural education, because shared resources, expertise, and aligned goals create a more sustainable and effective system for teacher preparation and program delivery.
  • Equity-Focused Expansion of Agricultural Education
    methodology: equity_and_inclusion
    By expanding agricultural education into urban and underrepresented communities with an equity lens, we increase access and participation, because culturally relevant and geographically inclusive programming removes systemic barriers and affirms diverse identities in agriculture.
  • Service-Integrated Leadership Development
    methodology: service_integrated_leadership
    By integrating community service with leadership training, we cultivate responsible and civically minded leaders, because service-learning experiences deepen accountability, empathy, and practical leadership skills.
  • Workforce and Entrepreneurship Development via Experiential Learning
    methodology: workforce_pipeline_development
    By engaging students in experiential learning and agricultural entrepreneurship, we build a skilled future workforce, because hands-on problem-solving and innovation in real-world contexts develop technical and entrepreneurial competencies aligned with industry needs.
  • Youth Development Through Agricultural Education
    methodology: student-development-through-agricultural-education
    By using agricultural education as a platform for leadership, personal growth, and career development, we produce more engaged and capable students, because hands-on, context-rich learning in agriculture fosters holistic youth development.