Planting Seeds"The Future’s Right Now"
When I was in school, I remember going on an 8th grade class trip to Springfield and high school trips to Washington, D.C.
I still have the photos from those trips in albums at home. I remember rubbing the nose on the statue at Abraham Lincoln’s tomb and walking around for what seemed like miles on the National Mall. I also remember having fun on the bus with friends, enjoying my time out of the classroom and out and about in “the real world.”
I relived some of those memories October 23 and 24 when I traveled with 20 high school students from Chicago to attend the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis. Although I was a chaperone, I still felt the excitement of traveling via coach bus, looking forward to visiting a new destination with friends.
My high school did not have FFA, and I know I missed out on many great opportunities by not being involved with the organization. I would have loved to participate in projects and learn more about agriculture and leadership as a teenager.
When the students got onto the bus, they were dressed casually – sweatpants, Beats headphones, and Nike sneakers.
After a few hours on the road, we stopped for lunch, and the students changed into their FFA formal attire. They changed into pressed white button-down shirts, dress shoes, and navy blue FFA corduroy jackets.
A few of the high school boys were struggling to tie their FFA logoed ties, since they had never worn or tied a necktie before. Seeing that the students needed some help, our bus driver taught the students how to tie a tie. It was a simple act of kindness I’m sure the students will always remember.
After signing in and grabbing an official group photo in front of a John Deere tractor, we walked to Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts. I was just told that the opening session would be held at “the stadium,” I had no idea that it would be held at THE stadium! I’ve been to professional sports stadiums plenty of times, but never for an ag-related event.
As I walked through a side entrance to our seats, the first thing I saw was a sea of navy blue. Nearly 70,000 FFA students were in attendance, and they were all wearing their jackets. The opening session began with an impromptu dance party, with students from all 50 states and territories, including Guam and Puerto Rico, singing and dancing.
Two songs that I thought were poignant were “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, with the lyrics “This is the moment/ Tonight is the night, we’ll fight ‘til it’s over/ So we put our hands up/ Like the ceiling can’t hold us” and “Future’s Right Now” by City Wolf, with the lyrics “Look around look around/ The future's right now.”
I captured about 10 videos of the crowd of students, each representing their schools and their little (or not-so-little) corner of the United States, dancing, singing, and celebrating. Everyone was happy. The excitement was contagious! I couldn’t help but to clap and cheer along with a giant grin on my face, laughing at others’ silly dance moves and adding in a few of my own.
It was then that I realized what I was witnessing: the future. The National FFA Organization was once known as “The Future Farmers of America,” with the name change occurring in 1988.
The stadium was nearly at capacity because of agriculture. The same stadium would be full the following week with Taylor Swift fans attending her concert.
I looked out at the crowd in amazement numerous times that afternoon. Later in the day, our group attended the FFA for All experience, which covered the topics of diversity and inclusion in FFA and agriculture. The 20 students from Chicago were able to meet, talk, and befriend students from across the country: Hawaii, Alaska, New York, Florida, and every state in between.
Agriculture looks different throughout the United States. In Illinois, we grow corn and soybeans. Other areas have cranberries, wheat, cotton, and oranges. But what connected the students are two things: their blue FFA corduroy jackets and their reason for being there – agriculture.
I returned home with the same infectiously positive attitude I felt at Lucas Oil Stadium. I was reminded that there are a whole bunch of youth – 70,000 of them, to be exact – that care about agriculture, leadership, and the world of tomorrow. They are completing projects, working together, solving problems, and making the world a better place. It put me at ease to know that through the ups and downs, highs and lows, and tumultuous unknowns of the future, the kids are alright – and the future of agriculture and the future of tomorrow is starting right now.