How FFA Has Changed My Life
Becoming a member of the National FFA Organization and the Oklahoma FFA Association has changed my life. Both have become a second home for me. Through FFA, I have gained confidence, leadership skills, friendships and memories that I will carry with me forever. FFA has helped shape me into a stronger and more hardworking person while giving me opportunities I never imagined possible.
One of the biggest ways FFA has impacted my life is through the meats evaluation and technology career development event (CDE). Competing in meats evaluation and technology taught me responsibility, teamwork and how to think under pressure. My team worked hard all year practicing and preparing for contests, and one of the proudest moments of my life was when we won the state meats evaluation and technology CDE. Winning state gave us the opportunity to travel to Denver and Indianapolis to compete at the national level. Traveling to nationals allowed me to meet people from across the country and represent Oklahoma FFA on a national level. Those experiences taught me that hard work truly pays off and pushed me to become even more determined to succeed.
FFA has also helped me grow through speeches and public speaking. Before joining FFA, speaking in front of people made me nervous, but competing in speeches gave me confidence in myself. Each contest helped me improve my communication skills and taught me how to express myself clearly. These experiences have prepared me for leadership roles and future opportunities.
Another major part of my FFA journey has been showing pigs. Raising and showing pigs has taught me patience, dedication and responsibility. Through showing, I have traveled all across Oklahoma competing at livestock shows and representing my chapter. All the hard work I put into caring for my animals has paid off through earning multiple first-in-class wins and breed champion titles. One accomplishment I am especially proud of is making sale at county every year. Those moments made all the long nights, early mornings, and hard work worth it. Showing pigs has taught me valuable life lessons that I will always carry with me.
One of my favorite memories in FFA was attending my first alumni camp. Camp allowed me to meet new people, make friendships and grow closer with other members. It reminded me that FFA is more than just an organization—it is a family that supports and encourages each other.
In 2025, I also had the opportunity to attend both the Oklahoma State FFA Convention and the National FFA Convention& Expo for the first time. Seeing thousands of members gathered together in their blue jackets was inspiring and showed me how much FFA means to people across the country. Those conventions helped me realize that FFA is much bigger than just my chapter; it is a nationwide family.
FFA has become a home for me because it is a place where I feel accepted, encouraged, and supported. The memories, friendships, and opportunities I have gained through FFA have changed my life forever, and I will always be grateful for everything it has given me.
