[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR. W. DWIGHT ARMSTRONG FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE 
         AS CEO OF THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION AND FOUNDATION

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2016

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. W. 
Dwight Armstrong on the occasion of his retirement from the National 
FFA Organization and Foundation. For the past several years, Dwight has 
devoted his life to providing an exceptional educational experience to 
young leaders interested in agriculture. Located in Indianapolis, 
Indiana, the National FFA Center is home to the National FFA 
Organization, an organization committed to the individual student, 
providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth, 
and career success through agricultural education, and the National FFA 
Foundation, which builds partnerships with industry, education, 
government, foundations and individuals to secure resources for the 
future of education, agriculture and student leader development. The 
National FFA Organization and Foundation flourished immensely under 
Dwight's strong leadership and the Hoosier community is forever 
grateful for his dedication to our country's future leaders.
  Dwight has demonstrated a lifetime passion for agriculture and the 
growth of our country. Growing up on a small farm right outside of 
Kuttawa, Kentucky, his love for agriculture began at a young age. He 
attended Lyon County High School, where he was an active leader in the 
National FFA Organization. Upon graduating high school, he went on to 
pursue higher education in this vital field of study. He received his 
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Murray State University in 
1971. After receiving his bachelor's, Dwight relocated to the Hoosier 
state to attend Purdue University, where he received his Master's and 
PhD in Animal Science in 1973 and 1975, respectively.
  Before he began his tenure with the National FFA Organization and 
Foundation, he served in a number of positions that helped prepare him 
for his role as the leader of the National FFA. From 1975 to 1982, 
Dwight served as faculty in the Animal Sciences Department at North 
Carolina State University and was engaged with teaching, research, and 
extension work in swine nutrition. From 1982-2000, he held a number of 
leadership roles and eventually became President at Ackey Inc. in Ohio, 
a company providing nutritional solutions for animals and livestock 
throughout the United States. When Ackey was acquired by Provimi, a 
public company based out of the Netherlands, Dwight continued 
progressing with the company. From 2000 to 2008, Dwight served as CEO 
of North American Nutrition Companies, Director of the Americas, and 
eventually became Vice President of the Global Group. In this last 
role, he lived in the Netherlands and had operational responsibilities 
for Provimi's businesses in the Americas, France and Switzerland, and 
also served as a global innovation leader.
  In 2008, he retired from Provimi and started his own consulting 
business with a focus on animal nutrition and agribusiness, and 
finally, in 2009, Dwight joined the National FFA Organization as its 
COO and was later named CEO. In 2014, he was also named CEO of the 
National FFA Foundation and served both the Organization and the 
Foundation in a joint appointment.
  Dwight's extensive and diverse background in the agriculture world 
made him an impeccable candidate to lead the National FFA. During his 
seven-year tenure, he has overseen an era of dramatic growth and 
success. Under his leadership, the organization increased participation 
exponentially and achieved an all-time record high membership of 
629,367. This increase in student participation led to a vast increase 
in attendance at the National FFA Convention & Expo, making it the 
largest annual student gathering in the nation. He also solidified 
close collaboration and complementary strategic direction for both the 
National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation. The National 
FFA Foundation achieved record results in their annual fundraising 
efforts and campaigns. These notable records set under Dwight's 
guidance exemplify the significant and essential contributions he made 
to both the National FFA Organization and Foundation.
  Dwight's success as a leader in agriculture and astonishing 
dedication to our future farmers and leaders has not gone unnoticed. He 
has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the 
Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Award from Purdue (1995), American 
Society of Animal Science Fellow Award (2000), Outstanding Agriculture 
Alumni Award from Murray State University (2002), Honorary American FFA 
Degree (2005), National FFA VIP Award (2006), Distinguished Alumnus 
Award from Murray State University (2007), and the Distinguished 
Service Award from the American Feed Industry Association (2009). Due 
to his outstanding guidance and service, he has been asked to serve on 
a variety of agricultural and not-for-profit boards throughout the 
years, including the American Society of Animal Science board (1996-
1998), Animal Agricultural Alliance board of trustees (1998-2001), 
American Feed Industry Association board (1998-2001), National FFA 
Foundation Sponsors' Board (2000-2005), Professional Services board 
(2009-present), Mathile Institute board (2011-present), and Shoulder to 
Shoulder board (2012-present).
  Agriculture is an essential part of not only our nation, but the 
entire world. Dwight has made a remarkable impression on the world of 
agriculture and the future leaders of our great nation. He left a 
legacy of success that will continue to be seen through the work and 
efforts of our young farmers and future leaders for decades to come. On 
behalf of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, I'd like to 
congratulate Dwight on his noteworthy career and extend a huge thank 
you for all the wonderful contributions he has made to the Hoosier 
community and our country as a whole. I wish the very best to Dwight, 
his wife, Judy, and their family as he enjoys a well-deserved 
retirement.

                          ____________________