National Theme and Project

2023-2024

National President’s Theme and Project

Each year, the National President creates a National Project and Theme in support of educational programs. Led by the National President and Senior National President, the National Officers, State Presidents, and National Chairmen promote the project and theme throughout the country.

National President Victoria Smith

Senior National President Diana Decker Brokaw

National Theme

“Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders”

Part I: Partner with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum located in Springfield, Illinois

Collaborating with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to raise $15,000.00 to restore two historical items.

Items being restored:

The First Report of the United States of Depart of Agriculture

This document is the legislation that created the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1862. The creation of the USDA was a pivotal moment in history since it is responsible for legislating food, agriculture, economic development, science, natural resource conservation, and many other issues for our nation.

Abraham Lincoln’s Leather Portfolio

The portfolio has Abraham Lincoln’s initials and may have been used by him to carry the 1862 Legislation creating the USDA. The portfolio would have also been used to carry other important historical documents such as The Gettysburg Address, The 13th Amendment, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Part II: Connecting Our Local Societies to N.S.C.A.R.

The greatest gift possible is the gift of service. Service is extremely integral to who we are as a society. To develop a closer tie between local and national societies, we encourage societies to set a service goal. The national goal is 30,000 volunteer hours, emphasizing organizations related to agriculture in coordination with the national project. All hours will be tracked on the N.S.C.A.R. website.

Each society has the option of choosing a 501C3 organization to raise funds for through the N.S.C.A.R. Grant program. A goal of $35,000.00 is set for this program which will be divided equally to the society’s chosen organization that submits a grant form and who have met the established criteria. All grants will be sent out after the close of the 2024 N.S.C.A.R. National Convention.

Suggestions for Volunteer Activities:

There are many ways to get involved within your community, and we cannot wait to see how our members volunteer this year. All local societies can pick their way to volunteer within the community. Still, some ways we suggest that are tied to the theme for this year are to plant wildflowers in parks, donate food to pantries, work in a community garden, host a spaghetti dinner for veterans, clean up a public space, or create bagged lunches for food insecure children.

Financial Goals for National Project

To fund the goals of this year’s project, the society will work to raise a total of $50,000. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will receive $15,000; the remaining $35,000 will go towards grants for local societies that apply to receive them for an organization they volunteered to support this year.

Grant Applications

In order for you cause of choice to be considered for a grant, your local society must fill out a grant application to make your request and show that your society volunteered between April 29, 2023 to February 29, 2024.

National sales items

Support this year’s National Project by purchasing this year’s sales items. There are lots of fun things to purchase this year and wear on tour to show your support for C.A.R. this summer.

Log your Volunteer Hours

For those societies looking to apply for a grant at the end of the year, please log your volunteer hours! You are able to add as many hours as you can and can track them throughout the year.