FFA in the USA: What if?
My name is Michaela Miller, and I’m from Carrollton, Mo. I currently have the incredible honor of serving as one of your 2025–26 FFA in the USA Reporters, an opportunity that has truly changed my life in more ways than I ever imagined.
I live on a fifth-generation family farm, and being surrounded by agriculture has always been a part of who I am. Some of my favorite memories are spent working alongside my family, caring for animals, watching crops grow and learning the lessons that only farm life can teach. Agriculture has always felt like home to me, but as I got older, I began to feel like I wanted to be able to offer more to the family farm. I loved the industry deeply, but I wasn’t quite sure what I offered to our operation.
Last summer, I found myself uncertain. I was still discovering my place within FFA and trying to figure out what path I wanted to take, all while facing some personal challenges. Around that same time, I had just started using social media. One day, I came across a post on my FFA chapter’s Facebook page about the FFA in the USA Reporter program. Something about it immediately caught my attention.
I remember feeling a mix of excitement and doubt. I walked up to my mom that day and told her, “I think I want to try this…I probably won’t get it, but I want to try.” Even though I wasn’t confident in the outcome, I couldn’t ignore that spark inside of me.
When I was younger, I always loved writing stories. I loved the idea of capturing moments and sharing experiences in a way that made people feel something. Thinking about this opportunity, I realized it could be exactly that for me — a way to combine my passion for agriculture with my love for storytelling. More than anything, I wanted the chance to share the journeys of others in agriculture — their stories, their struggles and their successes.
This program in FFA allows you to meet others with the same passions and interests from across the U.S.
This year, I decided to take an agricultural leadership and communications class, not realizing at the time how perfectly it would align with this new chapter of my life. Walking in, I was stepping into something completely new, and to be honest, I was a little nervous. Photography was something I had never really explored before, and the idea of learning a new skill felt both exciting and intimidating.
As I began learning and practicing, I fell in love with capturing moments through a camera lens, especially the special memories made within FFA. Before I knew it, I had become the go-to photographer at nearly every FFA event, always with a camera in hand, ready to capture the memories being made.
Looking back now, I can clearly see that moment as a turning point in my life. At the time, it felt like nothing more than a simple “what if,” a small decision that didn’t seem like it would lead to anything big. But over time, that one choice grew into something so much more meaningful than I ever expected. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to take chances I might have once been too hesitant to try.
Because of that experience, I found the courage to run for area office, a step that once felt far beyond my reach. I never imagined I would one day serve as area president, but through this program and the support of the people around me, I was able to grow into that role. Each opportunity taught me something new about leadership, responsibility and believing in myself, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready.
In the last year, I have learned so many more communication skills and leadership qualities. I hope to continue to use these in all my future endeavors.
More importantly, this journey hasn’t just been about titles or accomplishments; it has been about personal growth and discovering who I am. This program helped me find my place in agriculture in a deeper, more meaningful way. It connected me to a community that shares the same passion and values, and it showed me how I can contribute to something bigger than myself.
It also gave me a voice — one I didn’t always know I had. Through leadership experiences, conversations and challenges, I learned how to speak with confidence, advocate for what I believe in and represent others with integrity. Along the way, I found a sense of purpose and direction that continued to guide me.
I am incredibly grateful for where that small “what if” has led me. It’s a reminder that even the smallest decisions can shape your path in ways you never expect. I encourage everyone to grasp a hold of opportunities and take chances. This opportunity hasn’t just impacted my involvement in agriculture; it has shaped the person I am becoming.
In the beginning, I had no idea the impact this program would have on my life. It was a great honor to have been able to share your FFA stories!
