Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve

First in a series of stories the Hood County News is providing to its readers about the journey of FFA students during the course of the school year.

The Future Farmers of America began in 1928 by a group of young farmers, according to the organization’s website. The mission was to “prepare future generation for the challenges of feeding a growing population.” More than just planting and harvesting, the group taught that agriculture is a science, a business and an art.

Growing in scope since the 1920s, the motto of the current National FFA organization is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”

Leadership is the key feature of FFA, and with a commitment to the individual student, FFA endeavors to offer each student a path to leadership, personal growth and career success. FFA has grown to include students who want to engage in agriculture while aspiring to be farmers, teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more.

For some students, an interest in FFA comes naturally as their parents and grandparents participated in the organization; for other students, FFA was something they felt drawn to without any family heritage in the group.

The FFA program offers three programs of study under the umbrella of agriculture. These programs are plant science, animal science and agriculture mechanics.

FFA programs are robust programs in Hood County at each of the three public school districts. At Granbury ISD, there are currently 820 students in the program. For the first time ever, a principles of agriculture class was offered at the middle schools — now eighth graders have the opportunity to begin the FFA program.

“Our FFA chapter is extremely diverse. Students from all backgrounds find a home in our program. Many people think that FFA is just showing animals, but boy are they wrong. FFA is about learning leadership, work ethic, teambuilding and integrity and applying it in every aspect of our program. Yes, a majority of our students are involved for the livestock and ag mechanic shows, but there are also several that only compete on our leadership or career-based teams.” shared Erin Wilson, ag science teacher.

Teams vary according to semester. For the fall semester, the GISD FFA teams will be participating in various teams in Leadership Development Events.

This fall, GISD FFA students will participate in the agricultural quiz team consisting of students who will take a 100-150 question test over farm facts, Parliamentary Procedure and FFA knowledge.

The agriculture advocacy team consists of students who prepare a presentation for judges advocating for agriculture.

In the spring ,GISD FFA students will compete in Career Development Events such as the fet science team that identifies breeds, tools and parasites/organs that a veterinarian would need to know. Additionally, they have to show competence in skills such as removing sutures.

The entomology team requires student to identity and classify insects. FFA students will also be competing in Speaking Development Events in the spring. These events require the students to present to judges various topics related to agriculture.

There are also various special opportunities that arise for the students.

“We have a student who is currently participating in the National FFA Chorus, Audrey McKee. She got to go to Indianapolis, Indiana, and will be performing at each of the National FFA Convention sessions. RFD TV streams the convention live,” said Wilson.

FFA offers something for every student’s interest while still honoring the original intent of the organization.

Interviewed for this series were Caden Campbell, Audrey McKee, Alex Richards, Kynlee Greene, Carleigh Kohls, Audrey Dunstan, Braden Neal, Garrett Neal, Trevin Coker and Trace Coker, who will be featured in upcoming stories in the Hood County News.