At the Farm GateFFA blue jacket delivers lifetime impact
I have an FFA sticker on my phone, an “FFA Bed” in our loft and the beat of blue and gold in my heart. My son quickly points out my FFA Mom t-shirt as an example of my FFA fascination, but I also own a navy blazer with gold blouse and FFA lapel pin.
I love FFA, and I’m proud to show it.
FFA done well transforms lives. Likewise, agriculture programs with good teachers bring notice to the often-unnoticed teens. Immeasurable satisfaction swells within me and every one of our passionate volunteers who witness this national youth organization use agriculture as the avenue to develop young leaders, spark career interests, connect classroom learning to competitions, and provide conference and convention opportunities unlike any other school organization.
FFA is our family’s sport, a competitive and disciplined organization with its own uniform. It is uniquely inter-curricular not extra-curricular as FFA weaves into agricultural education curriculum at the 7-12 grade level. Often, membership generates an incredible everlasting loyalty, adoration and allegiance that keeps the signature corduroy jackets in our closets decades past wearing them.
Through my two kids, our chapter’s members and our FFA Alumni group, I’m gaining more from the blue jacket today than when I wore it. Our son leads quietly, a servant leader with a stellar record book in his passion for ag mechanics. My daughter just finished her term as the first major state officer in 60 years from our tiny school’s FFA Chapter.
The high-profile privilege came with responsibility, never complacency. She deferred college for a year to serve and travel more than 20,000 miles in-state to advocate for agriculture, vocational education and FFA. She commonly worked 60-hour weeks, sometimes more, with her teammates. They led thousands of students at workshops and conferences with record-breaking attendance. The team traveled to D.C. twice in 12 months and conversed with nearly 30 legislators representing Illinois. Each state officer visited almost 100 high schools in the fall alone and delivered more than 25 speeches across the term.
Our daughter found inspiration in the people she met, was challenged by the demands of leadership and humbly accepted the constant requirement to perform in public and leave an impact. Through exhaustion, challenge, triumph, criticism and praise, she grew more personally and professionally in the last 12 months than I will in my lifetime.
I took photos or videos almost every weekend when the FFA-wrapped Bronco she drove during the term left our driveway. Eventually, I’ll hang a photo of it near our “FFA Bed,” a spare queen topped with navy linens and gold throw pillows to accommodate FFA state officer guests.
My drive to support FFA will never rest.
About the author: Joanie Stiers farms with her family in Knox County, where they raise corn, soybeans, hay, beef cattle, backyard chickens and farmkids.