FFA

If you haven't guessed already, I have been involved majorly with my school's FFA chapter. I have served as Chapter Secretary, and am currently serving as this year's Chapter Vice-President. I am planning to run for a Nebraska State FFA Officer this spring.  FFA is a HUGE part of my life and it has played a major role in shaping the person I am today.

What is FFA you ask? Well, first off, it is not just the "Future Farmers of America", as it once was thought of. While the National FFA Organization still is based on "achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists" (straight from the FFA Creed...check it out: https://www.ffa.org/about/whoweare/Pages/TheFFACreed.aspx), with that comes so many more opportunities made available to anyone from every walk of life. The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Through the National FFA Organization I have learned, and am still learning, so many life skills that will carry me far beyond these dirt roads.


Just as the American flag is a representation of what it means to be an American, the FFA emblem plays a similar role in the hearts of FFA'ers across the nation (including Puerto Rico!) Here's a quick look at what elements come together to represent the history, goals, and future of this organization.

The cross section of the ear of corn: "Unity"
-Whether you live in Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or one of the states in between, corn is grown somewhere in your state. Corn signifies unity and, from the first Thanksgiving feast on, it has historically served as the foundation crop of American agriculture.

The rising sun: "Progress"
-The rising sun signifies progress and holds the promise that tomorrow will bring a new day, shining with opportunity. I have a feeling the creators of this emblem would be in total shock if they saw how the industry of agriculture has developed in this technological age and how it's evolved to meet the next generation of consumer demands.

The plow: "Labor and Tilling of the Soil"
-The FFA Organization is founded in agriculture, the backbone of our country. Without the labor and tillage of the soil done by our forefathers, our country would not be where it is today.

The eagle: "Freedom"
-The eagle reminds each and every FFA member that they have the freedom to explore new horizons for the future of agriculture.

The owl: "Knowledge"
-As the time-honored symbol of wisdom and knowledge, the owl symbolizes the knowledge required to be successful in the agricultural industry.

"Agricultural Education" and "FFA"
-The words "Agricultural Education" and the letters "FFA" are emblazoned in the center of the emblem to signify the combination of learning and leadership necessary for progressive agriculture.

While this may be my first post on FFA, it definitely won't be my last. Any questions about the National FFA Organization, please comment or head on over to this website: https://www.ffa.org/Pages/default.aspx.

This would be my sister and I. FFA is a family tradition passed on from a father to his daughters. :)

These would be a few pictures of my officer team. We are an amazingly dysfunctional group, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.