From Mountain Peaks to Golden Plains | Member’s Stories in the Treasure State
From snow-capped mountains and evergreen forests in the rugged, mountainous west to the patchwork of farms and ranches that dapple the golden-green lands to the east, Montana is a state as diverse as it is big.
And its FFA association is no different.
Numbering just over 6,500 members and 112 chapters, there’s a lot of variety in member experiences and service opportunities.
In the far western region of the state lies a 50-mile stretch of fertile land called the Bitterroot Valley. Four FFA chapters are located in this region: Florence FFA, Stevensville FFA, Victor FFA and the Corvallis FFA. Just in this tiny patch of land — itself no bigger than half of Delaware — are four chapters that each serve their communities in different ways and host an incredibly wide variety of members.
The Stevensville FFA, in its 87th year of operation, is no stranger to service work and to celebrating the unique experiences and perspectives of its membership. Under the evergreen-covered mountain range and the frigid skies above, this FFA chapter has done a lot for its community over its long existence.
Teigen Hackett, a fifth-year member of this FFA chapter and current officer, shares his experience in the chapter, recounting, “As an advisor’s kid, I’ve idolized FFA members my whole life. I grew up watching students put on their blue jackets, compete, and make memories and friends that lasted long after they graduated. When I finally got my own FFA jacket in seventh grade, it didn’t fit quite right, but man, it felt like Christmas.
“I’m not a show kid, and the ranching I do at home isn’t exactly large-scale agriculture. But I’ve never believed you have to come from a huge agricultural background to belong in FFA. Around this time of year, my chapter is busy preparing our Montana Made boxes for fundraising and getting members ready for the John Deere Ag Expo (A competition in Montana FFA). It’s a season filled with hard work, studying, teamwork (and a little bit of chaos). But that’s also what makes it special to us and for our community.”
Just in that FFA chapter, you can perhaps see similarities and differences with your own experience with FFA. What motivated you to join? How does your chapter serve your community? What keeps you excited to do FFA?
Going down the interstate a few hundred miles to the east, we arrive in Park City, a small town located a few dozen miles from the largest city in the state, Billings. Gone are the massive, commanding mountains of the west, and in their place are verdant plains dotted with ranches and farms, crisscrossed with dirt roads that link the many small communities that breathe life into this region. Park City FFA is likewise a proud chapter with rich history stretching far into the past. Its current chapter president, Wyatt Hess, shares the unique service his chapter does and his own role in it.
“It’s a setting where I feel like I belong, despite the differences between myself and other members, but not only that, it helps fuel improvement of our communities, Hess said. “Throughout the month of October alone, we have organized our annual school-wide day of service, getting over 160 kids involved in community service projects for three hours a piece, along with kick-starting our Toys for Kids program, which regularly supplies various families in our community with food and gifts for the upcoming holidays.”
Jumping to the other side of the state lies the Bainville FFA Chapter, nestled in the northeastern corner of the state. The chapter is set on a flat, dry plain, bereft of the imposing mountains of the west, and much closer to the scenery around Park City. Bainville is comparatively small compared to some of the other chapters in the state but is no less dedicated to helping its community and giving its members striking and salient experiences.
Tenley Berwick, a fourth-year member of the Bainville FFA, shares her chapter’s story.
“My experience in FFA has given me many opportunities! I would not be the person I am today without this organization. I have learned so much and met so many amazing people through FFA, and it has bettered me as a person and has given me so much compared to anything else,” she said. “For example, one thing we do for our community is our annual ‘Turkey Party.’ At the Turkey Party, we have Turkey Bingo for parents as well as many games for their kids to participate in and win prizes such as golf, balloon darts, beanbag toss, and other carnival-like games. It’s a great get-together event for our community with an agricultural focus.”
From these three examples, you can see the diversity inherent not just in Montana FFA but all across the nation, and that’s not even including the 108 other wonderful chapters in Montana.
Have you visited another FFA chapter in your state or truly discussed with a friend from a far-flung corner about their chapter experience? I invite you to learn a bit more about those who are around you, their stories and experiences, and how it’s different. Some states — such as Montana — don’t have areas or regions; some have state conventions with easily over 15,000 participants, and others only 150. Some states have only a dozen or so chapters and others as many as 1,000. Even from district to district, area to area, region to region, you can see many different ideas to implement or people to meet. Learning how other chapters and members organize themselves is a good opportunity to connect with new people, bring ideas back to your chapter, or become a more well-rounded leader who can draw on others’ experiences.
