2025-26 FFA in the USA Reporter Delainey Haddix smiles with her mother, Trisha Haddix.
When we think of “Living to Serve,” the picture that often comes to mind is clear: a teenager in a blue corduroy jacket, with their sleeves rolled up, who’s volunteering at an animal shelter, planning a highway cleanup or leading a community service project.
At Montgomery County FFA in Kentucky, that picture comes alive every week. But service is far bigger than events and workdays. It lives in the everyday heroes who make our FFA journeys possible. The unsung champions? Our parents.
From the first wobbly steps of childhood to driver’s permits and graduations, parents devote their lives to serving their children. In the FFA world, that service takes on a vibrant, unforgettable shape. It looks like bleary-eyed mornings before dawn, parents rushing to load a trailer or pack lunches. It is the quick pep talks at the car door, the whispered prayers before the first competition round and the proud smiles from the stands at a livestock show. Their service may not always wear a jacket, but it certainly carries the same spirit.
What Do the Parents Think?
When I interviewed FFA parents, their passion leapt off the page. One mother shared, “To have a very involved FFA child is to become involved with the FFA community as well! I’ve judged competitions, assisted her with responsibilities, and watching her succeed has given me such a sense of pride. Listening to her deliver speeches is absolutely priceless because I’ve seen the hard work and extra time she puts in to make it all possible.”
Looking at the Motto
That is the heartbeat of our motto in action. Parents are living examples of “Learning to Do,” picking up new skills right beside us, whether it is figuring out record books, navigating “parli pro” or simply learning the rhythms of agriculture. They step into “Doing to Learn” with sleeves rolled up, hauling livestock, volunteering at banquets and becoming part of the FFA family themselves.
Let us not forget the sacrifices. “Earning to Live” often looks like budgeting for jackets, competition fees or gas money for long trips — not to mention the midnight runs for forgotten nylons or ties. Those moments may feel small, but together they tell a story of love and dedication.
Finally, there is “Living to Serve.” Every pep talk, every tear wiped away after a hard day and late-night drive home is an act of service that is quiet, faithful and powerful. Parents are not just supporters. They are torchbearers, fueling the spark that lets us shine in our blue jackets.
So, the next time you zip up that corduroy, remember this: You are not the only one living to serve. Behind every FFA member stands a parent whose love, grit and devotion embodies the motto in ways words can hardly capture.
