Turning Rebate Dollars Into Impact
How GEAPS Chapters are Making a Difference
A complimentary GEAPS registration, a $6,000 investment in future ag leaders, no-cost events, better speakers—what do all these have in common? A brand-new boost to GEAPS chapters fueling that momentum like never before.
In case you missed it, this past year the GEAPS International Board of Directors approved a new rebate program for this Fiscal Year 2025-2026. It is designed to reinvest dollars back into the chapter network, providing eligible chapters with 25% of their membership dues paid. These funds create opportunities for chapters to enhance events, jumpstart creative planning, and better serve members.
With rebate dollars now in hand, chapters are already finding innovative ways to put them to work. From strengthening membership, engaging communities, and supporting the next generation of industry professionals, GEAPS creativity is thriving.
Growing Membership Through Experience
For the Great Plains Chapter, rebate funds became a tool to grow their membership and introduce new members to the full value of GEAPS.
Chapter President Josh Crosby explains, “We found ourselves in the same boat as a lot of chapters, trying to figure out what to do with the rebate money. A lot of our events already end up being little to no cost thanks to great vendor sponsorships, so we wanted to do something different—something that could grow our chapter and GEAPS as a whole.”
A brainstorming session with some fellow chapter leaders led to a solution: a membership drive that grants any new member who joins between October 1 and December 31 a complimentary GEAPS Exchange registration. Crosby adds: “Getting people to experience the Exchange is one of the best ways to show what GEAPS can do for them. If our rebate dollars can remove that barrier, it’s money well spent.”
The chapter carefully structured the program to make it sustainable, limiting it to three new members per company. “The Exchange is the heart and soul of GEAPS. Outside of safety and trainings, it’s where members get to experience education, innovation, and technology firsthand. If new members can attend and bring something back to their organization, that’s a win for them and a win for GEAPS,” Crosby says.
Looking ahead, he encourages other chapters to think outside the box to put the chapter rebate dollars to action. “Look at the bigger goal—growing your chapter and expanding GEAPS’ reach. If the rebate money continues and the chapter grows, it just snowballs into more opportunities.”
Investing in the Next Generation
Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Chapter used its rebate dollars to invest in the future of agriculture through the Minnesota FFA Foundation. This year, the chapter was able to donate $6,000 as part of the state’s FFA sponsorship program.
This idea grew out of a previous donation. “At our spring golf outing, we raised a few thousand dollars for FFA and got invited to present it at the Minnesota State Fair,” says Scott Peterson, Chapter President. “Meeting the students and board members inspired us—these kids were professional, motivated, and passionate. That sparked the idea to get more involved and make a bigger impact.”
The sponsorship provides the chapter with visibility through FFA publications and events. It also opens doors of opportunities to engage with students at career fairs and other FFA events. Peterson explains: “We’re hoping to show students the breadth of careers in agriculture beyond the farm and perhaps inspire future GEAPS members.”
The rebate funds made the decision easier. “Even without the rebate, we were in a solid financial spot. But when the opportunity came up to do a $6,000 sponsorship, the rebate money allowed us to say, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ It’s a unique way to promote GEAPS long-term and connect with the next generation entering ag careers,” Peterson says.
Chapters Finding Practical Uses Too
Not every chapter is tackling innovative programs or large sponsorships. Many are maximizing rebate dollars for more straightforward but still impactful purposes. For example, the Cornbelt Chapter (among others) are investing in marketing materials, such as direct mail postcards, to boost local awareness. Many others are taking this opportunity making chapter events free to members as a way to give back. And some chapters simply use the funds to hire speakers or purchase resources that enhance their meetings.
Furthermore, many chapters are also expanding their schedules to include more Maintenance Days or similar trainings. This approach is gaining traction across the organization. These hands-on sessions give members a chance to troubleshoot equipment, compare maintenance strategies, and learn directly from their local peers.
By carving out time for real-world, operational problem-solving, chapters are creating even more practical value for local members and strengthening the technical expertise within their regions.
These “everyday” uses may not make headlines, but they reflect the core intent of the rebate program: to give chapters the flexibility and resources to strengthen member engagement and improve programming at the local level.
As a global community, GEAPS thrives when chapters learn from one another. The examples from the Great Plains and Minneapolis chapters are sparking ideas across the network. Several chapters are already expressing interest in launching their own membership drives with an Exchange ticket twist, and others are exploring new ways to use rebate dollars to support students or expand member programming.
Creativity in one corner of GEAPS often inspires innovation in another, and that momentum is exactly what this program aims to cultivate.
So, let’s learn from one another. What creative pursuits will your chapter embark on this year? One key takeaway is clear: when chapters share ideas, invest in one another, and stay connected, the entire GEAPS community grows stronger.
