Student Focus

Cody Sanders, an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor at Sugar-Salem High School in Sugar City, Idaho, shares six ways to make this your best year in FFA ever.

This Alabama member plants an experimental crop that can be converted to jet fuel. Crystal Chandler was looking for a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) project when her FFA advisor at Geraldine High School in Geraldine, Ala., introduced her to carinata (Brassica carinata). The oilseed crop, a nonfood biofuel oil, can be used in jet fuel. The remnants of the carinata seed can be used as a high-protein feed for livestock. The timing was right for Chandler to plant the novel crop. Her parents had just rented 50 acres of farmland with plans to grow row crops. Also, Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., a business focused on sustainable biofuel production, was looking for Alabama farmers to experiment with the oilseed crop. Chandler was eager to take on a major project. “For my first SAE, I grew herbs,” she says. “The second year, I got a little bigger and grew 2 acres of row crops, and I wanted to do something bigger.” In 2017, Chandler planted 50 acres of carinata under contract with Agrisoma. She expected to harvest her first [...]

As the 2017 Grand Champion in the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition, Corey Verstraeten can certainly attest to the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” After being named as a finalist in three previous competitions, Verstraeten finally won the top prize during his senior year in high school with a restored Oliver 1755. Perhaps even more exciting, though, was the invitation Verstraeten received to appear on the television show, Jay Leno’s Garage, in August. It proves the value of perseverance and the importance of never giving up. 1972 Oliver 1755 A 2018 graduate of Southwest High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an active FFA member, Verstraeten chose a 1972 Oliver 1755 tractor with front-wheel assist as his senior-year restoration project. His tractor was ultimately selected as Grand Champion from among the 12 finalists in the competition sponsored by Chevron Products Company, a division of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Third Time’s a Charm Prior to winning the championship, Verstraeten was a finalist in 2016 with a 1971 Oliver 1855. He was also [...]

Large tanks bubble as koi do slow, meandering laps. Aquariums gurgle while lobsters peer through the glass. Vats of seaweed prepare to be processed.

Brooksville Sr. FFA members are using their Yearlong Living to Serve Grant to address coastal erosion due to the removal of invasive plants. Removing invasive plants is important. However, it left coastal areas bare and more susceptible to erosion. The chapter has been working with the University of Florida (UF) to research salinity tolerance in different coastal plants so that they can help restore some of the wetlands. About 500 plants and seeds have been propagated and are being cared for by the FFA members. The chapter is now working with UF to identify planting sites to continue their project. Brookville FFA is just one chapter that is putting their “leadership into action through service”.  To get inspired and see what other FFA chapters across the country are doing to create a positive impact in their community, There are many other examples on the interactive Living to Serve Map. How can your chapter serve your community with a $3,000 Living to Serve grant?  Work with your chapter to INVESTIGATE a community need, PLAN the yearlong service [...]

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes, they wear blue jackets.

More than 10 million people tuned into ABC's American Idol Sunday night and saw FFA member Noah Davis win over the hearts of the celebrity judges.

A one-time agriculture newbie finds his future in FFA.

This Minnesota student’s love of ag has taken her to the far corners of the world – and her quest to teach others is just taking off.

Hi guys! My name is Alexa Curtis and I am a teen influencer and bullying expert. When I was 12, I started a blog to inspire other teens to follow their dreams. Now, I get to follow mine and inspire you to follow yours! I wanted to talk a bit about the positive and negative sides of the web. While I know the pitfalls of social media, I also know and understand the importance of social media for personal connections, as well as businesses. Sometimes, I wake up and feel so stressed out and overwhelmed with the internet. I hate knowing that I’m supposed to wake up each morning and immediately check my Instagram or Facebook feed, mainly because that’s my job. Last month, I decided I should take one day off per week from the web. So far, it’s making me happier than I’ve ever been. Have you ever taken a vacation from social media? My business partner for my nonprofit, Steve, took a break from social media 2 years ago. He, along with myself, [...]