From the field to the classroom

Members of the National FFA Organization (FFA) spend countless hours in and out of the classroom learning about agriculture and the different opportunities that surround the industry.

Previously known as the National FFA Organization, the group now just goes by its initials, FFA.

'It doesn't stand for that anymore because they want it to incorporate more than just farmers,” said Highland High School junior Taylor Sublette.

Matthew Jones, FFA sponsor at Mt. Pleasant Community High School said the change was positive because FFA covers a variety of topics.

'FFA is so much more than just farming. It's built on building leaders and building communicators and getting them ready for success in their careers beyond the scope of agriculture,” he said.

Jones said the program just began in fall 2019 based on a request from students who wanted to be involved.

'It all started with some students in a class here at the school. Their project was they wanted to bring agricultural education back to the school and they got the ball rolling, started doing some fundraising and a year later they hired me,” he said.

Sophie Bell, Washington High School (WHS) senior and president of her school's FFA chapter, said the program is really built on member involvement. The year long activity has prerequisites required to take in order to be a member.

'To be an FFA member you have to have at least one agricultural class per year but you're welcome to take more,” she said.

These can range from woodworking, natural resources in agriculture and ag business, she said.

The rang of opportunities and depth of involvement is something Bell feels is a curiosity to people who do not understand what all 50 members do throughout the course of the year.

'I think people are surprised how hands on it can be, because when you think of school you kind of think of sitting in a classroom and not doing much but that's what I like about the ag department. We get to be outside and hands on,” she said. 'Personally I learn better when I can go do it instead of just looking at pictures.”

Amanda Brown, FFA sponsor at Winfield-Mt. Union (W-MU), said the school has had an ag program since 2010 and officially began the FFA chapter in April 2012.

The chapter is officially named the W-MU Crooked Creek FFA because at one time there was hope the chapter could share with other schools. Because Crooked Creek runs through all of Henry County, the name was chosen she said.

However, this plan has yet to come to fruition and is currently comprised only of W-MU students, she said.

They are required to take at least one ag class to be part of the chapter, she said, and the whole premise is to help them 'get their feet wet.”

The W-MU Crooked Creek FFA chapter is open to students in seventh grade through high school. Brown feels allowing students a hands-on look into the ag world, especially at a young age, opens doors for them in the future.

'FFA gives them an opportunity to pair with a company or individual to develop skills they may not be able to develop inside a classroom,” she said. 'Ag is a lot more than farming.”

Bell agreed, and said one way Washington students get a hands-on, ‘more than farming' experience is through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE). Students hold jobs that are directly related to agriculture, such as working at a flower shop or at a grocery store. The experiences help create a correlation between classroom work and real-world experiences.

'Things like that really tie FFA and agriculture to everybody,” she said.

Even people who are not directly interested in farming can find a place in FFA, said Sublette, a junior at Highland High School.

'There's a bunch of kids who are not exactly interested in farming that don't have much experience in farms and things but are in FFA for a different learning experience,” she said.

Communication and leadership skills are taught right along with farming, she said.

Sublette and fellow junior Jamison Kasparek have applied to be district officers which would allow them to be in charge of one of the six districts throughout the state.

Communication skills are what students at Mt. Pleasant Community High School find to be the most valuable.

Hoang Mai, a senior, said he does not have a background in agriculture but decided to join the chapter anyway. For him, being in FFA is a learning experience that goes beyond farming basics.

'Through this class you can boost your confidence because it shows you how to talk to people,” he said. 'It's a lot about the experience and being able to work with other people. I think it build a lot of life skills.”

Zack Wesely, a junior, said the real life conversations and skills, such as marketing and sales, are a valuable resource he can't get in other classes. Although the FFA chapter has just launched, Wesely said he has big hopes for the future and is wishing for warmer weather so the group can get outside.

A unique outdoor experience students in Washington have the opportunity to participate in is the Washington FFA Land Lab.

'Members of the FFA can pay $1,000 to get into land lab and farm about 60 acres of corn and soybeans across the community. That is basically the group of young farmers who want to get their hands on a bit of real agriculture,” she said.

The field doubles as an outdoor classroom for agronomy classes, she said, where students are taught to scout fields or make yield estimates.

Taking care of the field does require students to be absent from the classroom but Bell said the impact is minimal.

'There's really not much time that we miss school, it just depends on harvest season. Obviously weather id dependent on that, but during harvest time we'll get the combine out there at about 8 or 9 in the morning and it usually only takes a day or two because we don't have very much to farm,” she said.

Highland students have a similar set up with their test plot, a 13 acre piece of land where they plant, farm and harvest soybeans. Kasparek said local farmers assist with the harvest season, which means a lot to the students because it shows they have community support.

'Without them we wouldn't be able to get it done,” he said.

Local businesses and families donate use of equipment in Washington also, which helps students have a chance to work with technology they may not have at home, Bell said.

The harvested product is then donated to Growing Hope Globally, a nonprofit that ships the corn and soybeans to develop countries to help feed the hungry.