Most people in the field of agriculture have heard the FFA motto at least once in their lives: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” For FFA Alumnus Blake Erbach, that wasn’t just something he said — it was something he lived by. That final line, “Living to Serve,” became more than words. He gave it a deeper meaning.
When Erbach was a teenager growing up in Arkansas, he never imagined how agriculture and the people who taught it would shape his future. His ag teachers saw something in him he didn’t see in himself. They opened his eyes to a world beyond the small, rural community where he grew up. They also showed him that agriculture wasn’t just about cows or crops — it was about people, passion and purpose.
That spark never left him. He followed it to Oklahoma State University, where he earned a degree in animal science with a minor in agronomy. After college, he spent four years in Colorado working in production agriculture. He loved the work, but something kept pulling him back home. He realized he didn’t just want to work in agriculture — he wanted to serve through it. That’s when he found his place as the Perry County 4-H Extension Agent.
Blake Erbach and some of his Perry County 4-H Teen Leaders on a 4-H Excel Trip.
Serving Perry County felt like coming full circle for Erbach. His goals became clear: to provide opportunities for youth and help them see there’s a big world waiting beyond their small town. Many young people grow up without realizing what’s possible for them, and Erbach wanted to change that. He hoped to prepare them for life as adults, teach them leadership and career skills, and help them find their passions — just as his agriculture teachers had helped him find his.
The FFA motto guided his path every day. Erbach believed he was still “Learning to Do” through new experiences, “Doing to Learn” by working hands-on with the community, “Earning to Live” by pursuing his passion and, most importantly, “Living to Serve” by helping others find direction in life.
His service doesn’t stop in the Extension office. He stays involved with organizations like the Perry County Farm Bureau, First Electric, the fair board, and the Perry County Leadership Foundation, which he helped establish. Most of these groups rely on volunteers and meet in the evenings, but Erbach never minds. Staying engaged keeps him connected to the people he serves and grounded in his purpose.
Erbach teaches some of his 4-H members about rice plants.
Agriculture is more than his job — it’s his calling. His favorite part isn’t the programs or events, but the people. He loves seeing a student gain confidence, a farmer succeed or a community come together. After four years in his role, Erbach can look around and see how far his efforts have reached.
For Erbach, living to serve isn’t just part of a motto — it’s a way of life. Through his passion, work and heart for others, he proves that when you live to serve, you don’t just change your community — you inspire it.
