Just because a student is an FFA member does not mean they will make a living as a farmer.
Some will go to work in agriculture, but others choose to become teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners or engineers or follow other career paths.
Because the National FFA Organization is “committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education,” students receive the tools they need to be successful in any field.
What started as Future Farmers of America in 1928 changed to FFA in 1988 to “reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture,” according to ffa.org.
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National FFA Week is celebrated in February each year. This year, it started Feb. 17 and runs through today.
It’s a time for members to lead activities that raise awareness about the role the organization plays in the development of agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural education, the website says.
In Jackson County, there are FFA chapters at Brownstown Central High School, Crothersville Junior-Senior High School, Seymour High School, Seymour Middle School and Trinity Lutheran High School. Medora High School also has been approved to start a chapter in the 2018-19 school year.
Each morning this past week, announcements were made at Brownstown pertaining to the paragraphs of the FFA creed.
On Monday and Tuesday, there was a bean-bag toss game between students with coupons for the school’s new coffee shop up for grabs. On Wednesday, students wore FFA shirts to school. Pictures of FFA activities were placed on lunch tables in the cafeteria Thursday, and students received a cupcake decorated with the blue and gold FFA colors after school Friday.
“FFA promotes leadership,” Brownstown FFA adviser Blake Hackman said. “Students are given numerous opportunities to participate in activities that sharpen their leadership skills that will be used throughout their lives.”
Crothersville started the week Sunday by placing the FFA flag under the American flag in front of the school and painting the school lobby windows blue and gold. A display case also featured the newly elected officers and highlights of the chapter’s year.
The student body was invited to dress each day as follows: FFA Day, rock your FFA swag, Monday; Twin Day, grab a friend and twin, Tuesday; Wacky Wednesday, go all out, Wednesday; Blue and Gold Day, show your FFA spirit, Thursday; and Farmer Day, grab a flannel and farmer it up.
Adviser Linda Myers said announcements were made each day telling the history of FFA and that day’s activities.
Those activities included hiding eight FFA emblems in the school for students to seek and find for a sweet treat Monday; guessing the number of corn kernels in a gallon glass jar during lunch Tuesday and Wednesday; hearing from Owen Coon, Indiana FFA northern region vice president, during a breakfast for members Thursday; and giving out prizes Friday.
Members were surprised with a sign on their locker that said, “FFA members go the extra mile” with a pack of Extra gum on it.
Also, teachers were treated to candy in a container decorated like an ear of corn, and school cooks and bus drivers received treats.
At Seymour High School, the FFA officers put together several trivia activities to teach their peers about different sectors of agriculture, including natural resources, agriculture facts, Plinko and Cow to Cone, which traces the making of ice cream and at the end of the activity, students received a scoop of ice cream.
Officers served lunch to teachers, administrators and staff Thursday in the agriculture room to show appreciation for all of the support they provide FFA members throughout the year.
“This week is important for students as they realize they are part of a national organization of leaders who are advocating for agriculture together,” Seymour High School adviser Jeanna Eppley said.
“Helping to educate the students and staff about the importance of and the future of our food and fiber supply is a common bond FFA members share throughout the nation,” she said. “Our officers work together throughout the year to achieve goals at the local, state and national level.”
Seymour Middle School’s FFA chapter also had several activities this past week.
On Monday, FFA officers had a Plinko board set up at lunch. Students had to answer three agriculture-related questions, and for each correct answer, they received a Plinko chip. They received prizes for various slots on the board.
A schoolwide rubber duck hunt was Tuesday. Rubber ducks were hid around the building, and students found them and turned them in for a prize.
A teacher appreciation breakfast was Wednesday, students paid $1 to wear a hat Thursday with proceeds going to a local food bank and they wore blue and gold Friday.
At Trinity, pork burgers were served one day, and FFA members were supposed to participate in Drive Your Tractor to School Day, but it was postponed because of the rainy weather.
Ashley Kincaid, a science teacher at Medora Community Schools, said in December, she turned in the paperwork to start an FFA chapter at the school and received approval.
In the third trimester of this school year, she is teaching an introduction to agriculture class and will have 20 students. The plan is to offer supervised agricultural experience in the summer, and then offer FFA for the first time in 2018-19.
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Crothersville FFA: facebook.com/cvilleffa
Seymour FFA: facebook.com/seymourffaindiana
Indiana FFA: inffa.org
National FFA Organization: ffa.org
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FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
FFA membership today is comprised of 649,355 student members in grades 7 through 12 who belong to one of 7,859 local FFA chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
FFA operates on local, state and national levels. Student members belong to chapters organized at the local school level. Agriculture educators serve as chapter advisers. Chapters are organized under state associations headed by an adviser and an executive secretary, often employees of the state department of education. States conduct programs and host annual conventions.
The National FFA Organization is governed by a board of directors, charters state associations and provides direction, program materials and support for local chapters and state FFA associations.
FFA was organized nationally in 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1950, Congress granted FFA a federal charter, making it an integral part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Act. FFA receives no federal funding.
The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.
Source: ffa.org
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Jackson County FFA advisers
Brownstown Central High School: Blake Hackman
Crothersville Junior-Senior High School: Linda Myers
Medora High School: Ashley Kincaid
Seymour High School: Jeanna Eppley
Seymour Middle School: Micah Wallace
Trinity Lutheran High School: Bryan Schroer
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