White Lake FFA members pose with their new FFA jackets.

Getting Started

Located in central South Dakota, White Lake is home to a thriving agriculture industry that encompasses cattle farming, crop production and natural resource management. In view of this fact, many students are involved in agriculture-related activities throughout the year, but are unable to pursue them in an educational format. Senior Kyza Johnson saw this issue and decided to make a change. With the help of her school counselor, Mrs. Mica Foxley, they were able to bring FFA to White Lake High School.

Since there is no agricultural education program at White Lake, Johnson knew it would take a lot of persistence and hard work to convince the school administration to approve of her venture. “We knew we would need to have student interest first, so we got 20 students to sign up for FFA,” Johnson says. “Then, Mrs. Foxley helped me convince the school board and our principal to let us start a chapter.”

Johnson described how the chapter operates without an official agriculture teacher. “The ag class we got offered was online since we do not have an actual ag teacher,” she says. “The teacher we had was Dani Herring, who helped us with any questions, even if they weren’t about our lesson.” The members of the White Lake FFA Chapter confronted these challenges with resilience and determination.

What’s Next

The chapter is led by President Kyza Johnson, Vice President Keaton Christensen, Secretary Porshe Hillman, Treasurer Koye Mohnen and Reporter Abagail Koneche. They currently have 20 members; however, Johnson highlighted that there are many middle schoolers and incoming freshmen who are excited about the opportunity to join the chapter in the future. Members are excited about attending career development events and, hopefully, the state convention in Brookings, S.D., this spring.

The chapter is set up for success next year, as many of the current officers are juniors and are looking to be re-elected. Both Johnson and Christensen have the same goal for the coming years: more chapter involvement. They hope to achieve this by hosting more events that unite the chapter with their school and community.

What are the Benefits of Having an FFA Chapter?

Joining a new organization or club can be intimidating for students, especially when they don’t know what to expect. “Don’t be afraid to join — it’s a lot of fun, and you won’t regret it!” says Mohnen to those hesitant to join FFA.

FFA can provide unique leadership development, personal growth and community service experiences. Taking the step to join can open the door to a better future for any member who is involved.

The establishment of this chapter demonstrates student determination and educator support. Their efforts have created a platform for members to engage with agriculture in a competitive and educational way. The White Lake FFA Chapter portrays how passion and commitment can lead to substantial change in education for generations to come.