FFA Members

When the new coronavirus (COVID-19) became a worldwide pandemic, National FFA events previously scheduled to take place in person had to transition to virtual events swiftly. This summer, two leadership and professional development trainings—with audiences spanning from in-service teachers to state FFA officers—still took place despite the limitations surrounding in-person gatherings. The National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA training took place in June, while the State Officer Summit took place in July. National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA Training: June 8-12 and June 15-19, 2020 2020 Format: Live Zoom sessions, pre-recorded video messaging and networking time in Zoom Typically, the National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA term begins with a summer training where ambassadors convene in Indianapolis in mid-June. Not only do ambassadors get to network and meet each other, but the training also provides an opportunity for ambassadors to learn about FFA educator resources and brainstorm how they will share the resources with their peers through interactive workshops. This essential training also outlines the expectations of the ambassadors. The team at National FFA executed virtual training—using Zoom—that took [...]

Each year, FFA chapters celebrate National FFA Week. It’s a time to share what FFA is and its impact on members. This February, members and chapter advisors celebrated FFA and served their communities, National FFA Officers visited with FFA chapters, and FFA Alumni and Supporters engaged on social media. Meanwhile, FFA partners and donors contributed to Give FFA Day, and National FFA staff celebrated at the National FFA Center in Indianapolis. This document provides quantitative information about FFA Week activities. For more information, contact evaluation@FFA.org. Celebrating National FFA Week Locally Many FFA advisors used the National FFA Week Implementation Guide to plan activities for their FFA chapters and schools during FFA Week. Analytics show that users accessed the guide 4,436 times as of March 2022, with most interactions in January and February. During FFA Week, visitors to FFA.org accessed the guide 516 times. Over National FFA Week, the FFA Week webpage on FFA.org was viewed 10,375 times. There are many possibilities for FFA Week activities, including: Teacher appreciation Social media campaigns Service projects Engaging with alumni [...]

Life membership is a one-time investment in the future of National FFA. It ensures FFA will be there to provide leadership training and experiential learning opportunities to generations of agriculturists. You’ll help us empower FFA members to exert an influence in their homes and communities. Benefits of Life Membership Life members receive a membership card, a membership certificate, a lifetime subscription to FFA New Horizons magazine, the ability to attend personal and professional development conferences and conventions, and additional member benefits. The true impact of a life membership to the lives of FFA members is through leadership scholarships. Nationwide Membership Supports Nationwide FFA Members In 2020, lifetime memberships allowed 42 alumni chapters and state associations to receive leadership scholarships to help current FFA members. Some states received up to $5,800 in leadership scholarships. Don’t see your state highlighted in green? Contact alumni@FFA.org. Life membership continues to impact FFA members—year after year The one-time cost to become a life member creates long-lasting impact for current FFA members, and here’s how: Life members contribute to an investment account [...]

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) became a worldwide pandemic in early 2020, prompting businesses and organizations to close throughout the United States. Perhaps two of the most impacted groups by the closings and limits on social gatherings were teachers and students. When schools closed, many faced the challenge of transitioning to e-learning to finish the school year. Canceled conferences and events also impacted participants. National FFA took the following actions to ensure that the FFA mission was still being delivered to members and teachers in the wake of COVID-19: Educator Resources National FFA recognized the potential difficulty of moving all learning online in a short time. To help ease the burden on agriculture educators, FFA took actions ranging from providing the 2017 National FFA Student Handbook online for free to creating a guide on distance learning. Analytics1 revealed that the 2017 Official FFA Student Handbook (English) was one of the top 10 accessed educator resources in both March and April, along with supervised agricultural experience (SAE) videos, the generic activity worksheet for SAE videos, and SAE choice [...]

Supporting state FFA officers While each state FFA officer’s journey is different, the National FFA Organization supports states and their officers through a blended learning model that includes face-to-face training experiences, digital and print resources, and online education—all of this to guide in the development of world-ready leaders. Who are they? The 2020-21 state FFA officers Three hundred and seventy-one state officers served the 2020-21 term. During their terms, 64% of these officers were in college, while 15% were high school seniors, 11% were business owners, 9% were taking a leave of absence from school to serve as state officers, and 2% were high school juniors or younger.1 Setting a strong foundation for an effectual year of service Officers from 47 states and Puerto Rico completed 119 trainings with National FFA and within their states; these trainings were Base Camp and Checkpoints. Focus areas of Base Camp and Checkpoints included sound character, positive influence, professionalism, time management, conversation skills, public speaking, effective communication, team dynamics and workshop facilitation. We asked attendees five questions related to each [...]

What Is FFA? FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America. These letters are a part of our history and heritage that will never change. Today, FFA members are future farmers, chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and premier professionals in many career fields. What Is National FFA Week? Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. It’s a time to share what FFA is and its impact on members. The week features designated days celebrating agriculture and FFA, including National Days of Service, Ag Teacher Appreciation Day and National Wear Blue Day. The first National FFA Week took place in 1948 when the National FFA Board of Directors designated a weeklong celebration from Saturday to Sunday. The week always encompasses George Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22) in recognition of his legacy as an [...]

In 2018, a collaborative study between Purdue University and the National FFA Organization1 explored the relationship between involvement in FFA and college and career readiness. Then in September 2019, National FFA conducted a follow-up study with a new sample of graduating FFA members during the first semester of their senior year in high school. Results show that FFA seniors continue to be college- and career-ready, as seen below. Impressive Grade Point Averages Set FFA Seniors Apart National FFA asked surveyed seniors to report their GPA. On a 4.0 unweighted scale, self-reported GPAs remain high among FFA seniors, with an average GPA of 3.59 out of 4.0. Ninety-six percent of graduating seniors reporting their GPA have an A or B average. In the previous study, the average self-reported GPA was 3.69, with the same percentage of graduating seniors being A or B students. No reported grade point averages indicated that members earned below a C average. FFA Seniors’ Critical Thinking Capabilities Match With Employers’ Expectations A 2015 survey found that employers believe critical thinking is among the [...]

A member’s level of involvement in FFA can vary widely—from not being involved in any activities to competing at the National FFA Convention & Expo. What barriers exist that prevent FFA members from being fully involved in FFA? The National FFA Organization and Purdue University surveyed high-school FFA members from 60 schools to help answer this question. Survey participants came from 60 FFA chapters—31 classified as being in a rural area and 29 in an urban area.1 There were 590 usable responses from current FFA members.2 Most responses (about 90%) came from members of urban FFA chapters. While this research study3 was not the largest study of FFA members in terms of the number of respondents, it was the most racially and ethnically diverse pool to date. This report focuses on levels of involvement in FFA across various demographics—including urban or rural classification—and conclusions that can be drawn about more highly involved FFA members. Forthcoming reports will focus on other aspects of this research study. How is involvement in FFA measured on a survey? The survey [...]

Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) inspires FFA members to become changemakers in their communities. Each day of the conference focuses on a different principle taught through the context of our nation’s capital: Explore, Encourage, Advocate and Serve. At the end of the week, members leave with a Living to Serve Plan they can implement in their communities. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 2,000 FFA members from across the country attended WLC for one week in June or July of 2022. Attendees represented 587 different chapters across 45 states. At the end of seven weeks, 1,157 responses were recorded on a post-conference survey (67% survey completion rate). This document provides a high-level overview through the eyes of these FFA members who completed their survey and can be used to understand the life-changing experience that is WLC. For more information, email evaluation@FFA.org. After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 WLC nearly reached the outcomes of the 2019 conference. Attendance Compared to 2019 Measure 2019 2022 Registered Attendees 2,155 1,961 Living to Serve (Community Service) Plans [...]

Program Overview: Description and Objectives SAE for All was created to provide every student in agricultural education programs with access to invaluable work-based learning opportunities. This innovative delivery method ensures that no student is left behind in gaining practical, hands-on experience. Students can choose between two distinctive types of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) tailored to their interests and career goals: Foundational SAEs, which build essential skills and knowledge, and Immersion SAEs, which dive deeper into specialized, real-world agricultural experiences. The SAE for All certifications have truly empowered our teachers by giving them the tools, confidence and credibility to support every student in developing meaningful Supervised Agricultural Experiences. With this certification, our educators feel equipped to guide students not only through their SAE journey but also in preparing them for successful careers in agriculture and beyond. Bethany Matos, State FFA Executive Secretary, Arizona FFA Five Primary Objectives Guide the Program Provide training to state FFA staff, teacher educators and secondary agriculture educators on SAE for All to increase its implementation across the country. Certify state FFA staff, [...]

The Next Gen Conferences are a series of career-focused conferences centered around each of the eight Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Career Pathways.1 The most beneficial experience I had at the [Next Gen] conference was the persistent [advice] to do what I love and to find my why. I needed to be pushed to reach my full potential. Next Gen participant (2022) The National FFA Organization grows the next generation of leaders who will change the world. These future leaders can make a tangible impact on the problems facing the world and agriculture. National FFA uses conferences, workshops and other experiences to cultivate premier leadership, personal growth, and career success in FFA members. The FFA Next Generation (Next Gen) Conference equips students with the knowledge and skills to interest and prepare them for future careers in agriculture. The first Next Gen conference was held in Kansas City, Mo., in Feb. 2020. FFA members were immersed in experiences related to animal systems careers. The COVID-19 global pandemic halted plans for the conference series in 2021, but [...]

In late 2020, Purdue University collaborated with the National FFA Organization on a research study to discover the impact of agricultural education on senior FFA members’ openness, preparedness and adaptability regarding new and emerging technologies in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR). Openness, preparedness and adaptability are all skills that are in high demand from universities and employers; in fact, they were chosen for this study based on National FFA staff interactions with employers in agricultural companies and technology discussions that took place at the FFA Blue Room. In total, 1,528 member responses were used in data analysis. Seniors Open to New and Emerging Technologies, May Require More Experience and Education to Use Them in a Classroom, Lab or Future Career Developing technology has always played an important role in agriculture. In 2021, the necessity of being adaptable to new technologies is critical for those entering the field of agriculture. This research study defined “adaptable” as being open and prepared. These qualities were measured using the Openness and Preparedness Scale.1 On the survey, 10 new and [...]