Agriculture Now and Beyond FFA

When I was in high school, I remember seeing the attire of the blue jacket, embroidered with FFA; which was a shirt and pants. This outfit I believed was for the organization for men that only wanted to be farmers. I grew up on a farm and didn’t realize that (FFA) Future Farmers of America was a nonprofit organization also offered to women.

Jo Co School on the Move with Agriculture

On Friday, October 8, 2026, I was enlightened when I substituted for an Agriculture Class taught by a woman. I was very impressed by the students and the information they shared about animal and plant science classes. She even had farm animals housed and contained outside the school which they would have visited if she was present. In addition, she was bringing her dogs to share with the class. I felt great compassion for this teacher’s love for teaching agriculture as being a way of life.   The students learned so much about farm animals (care of, diet, body parts pertaining to cuts of meat we consider in shopping and so much more. Then there was plant science (I love gardening, but the information the students learned about science was so far out of my league).

The Co teacher’s class was also a gem of a class because I had to watch his class while he administered a test to her class. Since these students had finished their assignments, I was privy to glean information from his students as they shared about their love of farming.  Many of the students were from farm families and would join FFA when they are eligible this year, how exciting! These classes provided me with greater respect for our farmers and the FFA Organization which may be offered for an agricultural tract from 5^th grade through college, however, the school that I worked at was for junior and senior year.

Each one of these classes offered the importance of Agriculture to America. Many years ago, the organization focused on farms, the science of farming, animals and how it influenced our lives more on a local level. Today the organization realized that interests and talents involved part of our history and heritage in a broader scope beyond the local states, therefore the organization has become known as the National Future Farmers of America which expands around the world. This organization scopes out talents, interests, and leadership abilities. It advances beyond agriculture, but incorporates Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians and Future Entrepreneurs of America.

In dialoging with some of the students a couple of them were already involved in FFA exhibits. I asked if they attended the NC State Fair with their family or with the class to enjoy the Agricultural Exhibits displayed, a few of them love to visit them. As with myself, this has become my special place to hang out.

Passion for FFA Pays Dividends

While perusing the Fall 2026 North Carolina Field & Family Magazine, Katie Bryan, a 2024 graduate of Richlands High School and member of the FFA restored a 1950 John Deere Model A tractor. She spent more than 7,300 hours restoring the project and became one of 12 finalists in the (TRC) Delo Tractor Restoration Competition. Ms. Bryan noted that the skills gleaned her senior year in FFA emphasized community building which prompted leadership skills and developed her passion for agriculture in that one day she wants to become an Ag Teacher.

There is much value in being able to know and understand the products provided from our great nation and the accomplishments of people that continue to fight for the farmers and all those that desire for our country to remain self-sufficient and able to utilize the God given gifts we have and will not take for granted. This was the first school I substituted at this year and I took this image. We must seek to learn something each day, and I did.

What organizations or projects have you revisited since high school and how will you reignite them to glean more of what really matters now?