* The 2014-2015 senior student signature series features area senior class students – and their own “signature” outlooks on a topic of their choice. A new outlook will be posted on Cross-Counties Connect each Friday. The series opens with point of view comments by seniors from Mountain Lake Public High School. The opinions can be found by clicking on the Family & Faith link on the website’s header, and scrolling down to, and clicking on, Outlook. Their teachers are Brenda Feil, Kim Syverson and Debby Jass.
FFA: Not Just for Farm Kids Anymore
I keep hearing people refer to FFA as – Future Farmers of America.
I want to set the record straight; it is not just for farm kids anymore.
The name Future Farmers of America was changed to the National FFA Organization in 1988 in order to drop the image of “just for farm kids.”
Today, FFA is not just making “farmers,” it is preparing kids for job interviews and teaches the necessary skills needed to enter the workforce.
AgWeek states that 27% of FFA members live in rural farming areas, 39% live in rural, non-farming areas and 34% live in urban areas. This proves that FFA is evolving, branching out to everyone – from the farm all the way to the city.
Jack Roessler, current Minnesota State FFA President, did not come from an agricultural background, and lived in town. He states, “Something else that I am extremely grateful for is how knowledgeable the FFA made me about agriculture. However, despite the fact that I knew very little about the ag world when I joined FFA, there was someone always willing to teach me something new. I learned about what showing cattle at the Minnesota State Fair meant, how big of a deal $8 corn is compared to $3 corn and how dedicated some members were to their farm, family and animals.”
I believe it is important to understand that there is a lot more to FFA than the agriculture aspect. Through FFA, students acquire many different skills by being involved in speaking contests, parliamentary procedure and leadership camps.
The National FFA Organization states that, even if you do not choose a career in agriculture, the skills and training gained through FFA will lead to success in any industry.
One good point to make is that there are many leaders already out there who had their start in FFA. One notable FFA alumni member is former President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter. “I began to learn how to make a speech. And, I began to learn how to work with other people. I also learned the value of agriculture, farm families, stability, commitment, idealism, hope, truth, hard work and patriotism from the FFA,” notes Carter.
I, myself, being a “farm kid,” encourage every high school student to least give FFA a try.
The FFA is 60o,000 member strong, and is the largest student-led organization in the world. I believe that, my continuing to maintain strong numbers, it will help the organization to keep evolving with the times.
Dean Harder, a Mountain Lake native and former National FFA Vice-President shares, “One aspect that I believe will not change is the opportunity FFA provides to young people in the development of their leadership skills. FFA continues to be recognized as an organization dedicated to building leaders for tomorrow.
In looking to the future of FFA, one element will be evident: the FFA will look different, be different and act differently than it currently does. Today, urban students play a vital role in the continued success of the FFA – and that is why I believe it is not “just for farm kids” anymore.
* National FFA Week will be celebrated across the nation – and locally – from Saturday, February 21 through Saturday, February 28.