FFA's Influence on Schools

By Mariah Cull

FFA is one of the most popular clubs in American schools today. FFA gives students who are interested in any aspects of farming and the outdoors the opportunity to gain experience and learn skills.

There are so many different things to do in FFA and so many opportunities to learn something new. It’s not just about the “Future Farmers of America” anymore; FFA is about the kids who want to be involved in something new, something they might not experience otherwise. Another reason someone may join a club like FFA is to meet new people. If you’re new to a school are you going to meet everyone just by going to class, going to lunch and going home? No, you need to broaden your horizons and try new things.

I interviewed kids throughout Potosi School to see what sort of impact FFA has had on their lives. Hannah Nusbaum, a senior this year, said that FFA has taught her that agriculture is involved in everyday life. FFA is a club that strives to teach you that you need to be responsible and have a strong work ethic, because if you want to achieve your goals, you have to be able to work hard for them.

Here in our own FFA chapter, we have an Elementary Ag Day. This is a day set aside for kids to come outside and see all the different types of animals that FFA members have brought to the school.  We have a variety of animals from guinea pigs, to calves, to ducks. The FFA members answer all questions and teach kids about the animals they have brought in. Kids get to learn about all different kinds of animals, and it makes their day when they get to play with animals that they might not see in the city.

Another senior this year, Jessica Klas, said that she has had such a positive experience with FFA. She has a very strong passion for horses, and being involved in a club like FFA has boosted her ambition to learn about horses. Jessica said that she is going to college and majoring in Animal Science, and her decision to do this is partly because of her involvement in FFA.

No matter the age, FFA has something to offer many students. There is very rarely a negative thing said about FFA; if there is something negative then it might be coming from someone who hasn’t fully gotten involved and experienced everything that FFA has to offer. Schools everywhere are adopting their very own chapter and starting to get kids more involved in school. Even other countries have put their own spin on FFA to try and make it seem similar so that their student body will be able to get more involved.