This marked the inaugural year of the FFA Chapter Connect Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen relationships, foster inclusivity and build a greater sense of community among FFA chapters from across the country. The program pairs chapters of varying sizes, regions and backgrounds to collaborate on leadership projects, community service and classroom activities. [This is one of] the most impactful events we can do because we’re having the opportunity to pair up chapters around the country who never would have met each other otherwise,” says Corey Flournoy, the executive in residence of belonging and engagement at FFA. “So we intentionally have had an application process, we’ve paired up chapters from different regions, different types — so suburban with rural, different ethnicity. And so there’s an opportunity not just to have students meet each other, but develop deeper lasting relationships and hopefully learn and grow as part of this process.”
For members, the program is an opportunity to learn beyond their own school walls. Cardinal Newman FFA member LaLa Luci says the experience has helped her discover the value of teamwork and shared learning. “I think collaborating with others will definitely help me make new friends and also bring new ideas back to my chapter and I’m super excited to get to meet people from all over the country.”
Ron Brown FFA Chapter President Jevonte McCollum has found personal and professional growth through the exchange of ideas with peers in other chapters. “Professionally, I would say I would like to gain more partners and more internships for students at my school,” he says. “It can be more beneficial for my school because some of the things we don’t have funding for, so I believe if we make more connections, more partnerships, that would increase a lot of things that we don’t have at my school.”
It’s not just FFA members who benefit. LaSalle-Peru FFA Advisor Riley Hintzsche uses the program as a resource to enhance classroom instruction. “One piece that I really enjoyed is that we had Zoom calls with our connecting chapter twice and those were in the evening. Now that I sit back and think about it, I think how cool would it be to incorporate that with maybe a chapter every month that we could then connect in class with another chapter in another state and have that excitement and really get students to get to know each other. And that connection and then do chapter meetups here at convention in a different form.”
Lloyd Daley-Graham, manager of belonging and engagement at FFA, encourages members to make the most of the experience. He emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to connect with others and bring new ideas back home. “The advice I would offer members to make the most of this experience is to be vulnerable when you engage, be other-person centered…seeking to understand before being understood.I think all those pieces together allow for a lot of transformative experiences to take place.”
As the FFA Chapter Connect Program continues to grow, its impact on members, advisors and entire communities is becoming clear — showing that when FFA members work together, everyone grows stronger.
