Dr. Larry Case changed the face of the organization and rebranded FFA.
Dr. Larry Case played a pivotal role in shaping the National FFA Organization and transforming the agriculture industry as we know it today.
Dr. Case was born in August of 1943 in a clinic located in Norborne, Mo. He began his journey as a shy, bashful FFA member in the small town of Stet, Mo. Guided by the encouragement of his FFA advisor, Mr. Nofftz, Dr. Case discovered his calling to become an agriculture teacher. Starting at Northwestern High School in Mendon, Mo., Dr. Case advanced through roles in the Orrick School District — where he launched adult agriculture programs — before leading Lexington La-Ray Vocational Technical School as its inaugural director.
His commitment propelled him from local leadership to national prominence. He served as Missouri’s director of agricultural education, a senior program specialist at the U.S. Department of Education and the National FFA advisor (which included 26 years of service) — all of which focused on guiding generations toward excellence.
Brock Pitt from Stet, Mo., sees his hometown hero at the 2023 National FFA Convention & Expo.
Career Challenges
Dr. Case first started his role as the National FFA advisor in the 1980s. The organization was facing declining membership and severe financial shortages. At the same time, the agriculture industry was in the midst of a deep depression, forcing many farmers to sell their land and lose their livelihoods.
“The biggest challenge for me was taking a traditional, well-engraved program of instruction and moving it into a broader based instructional process,” Dr. Case says. “There are so many people behind each farmer producing food, research, biotechnology, transportation and marketing — the process of putting food on the table.”
Dr. Case inspired agriculture educators nationwide to broaden their perspective, recognizing the vast range of careers that modern agricultural education should embrace.
Definition of Luck
“My definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” Dr. Case says. “FFA members, don’t back away from things that make you uncomfortable. As a young person, you have lots of time ahead of you, but you need to experience various kinds of activities, and a lot of those you can find in FFA. Some of these activities are judging events, where you must provide oral reasons, as well as public speaking, being an officer, parliamentary procedure and being a leader in your FFA chapter.”
Dr. Larry Case also urges us to seek out individuals who are more knowledgeable and engaged than we are, so we can learn and grow through their example. “Be prepared and learn your passion,” he adds. “A job is not a job if you love what you what you’re doing.”
Dr. Case shares his wisdom with FFA members and inspires them to achieve their dreams.
