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Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING ABIGAIL VAN KLAVEREN!  I get to profile a lot of multi-generational farms on the Off-Farm Income Podcast, but today's episode is the first time that I am able to profile a farm that started in Europe and made its way to the United States. Abby Van Klaveren and her family run a commercial nursery called "Generation Growers" in Modesto, California.  They supply plants to different retail outlets and for landscaping companies, etc.  This story did not being in the San Joaquin Valley of California however.  It began among the windmills and low lying areas of Holland, several generations ago. The nursery business has been in Abby's family for generations and it survived a move across an ocean and across a continent.  Today Abby fully intends to continue the tradition in the future. Her dedication to this is demonstrated by her state proficiency win and national finalist ranking in nursery operations. Abby will be heading off to college soon, and she fully intends on devoting her studies to allowing her to grow and continue this business for generations to come. SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Nursery Operations HIGH SCHOOL: Modesto High School; Modesto, California MASCOT: Panthers FFA ADVISOR: Scott Layne CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ABIGAIL VAN KLAVEREN: Click on the picture below to be taken to the Modesto High School Website: Abby's FFA Advisor's Email Address: layne.s@monet.k12.ca.us  Modesto High School Telephone Number: 209.574.1776 FFA LINKS: National FFA Organization Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's) Support FFA  Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward. REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA: Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food. Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth. Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store: “The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters