Cori Hopkins of Paris, Tenn., started showing dairy cattle after joining FFA.
One of the most common considerations about FFA is whether it matters where you come from or what kind of agriculture background you have. Do you need to grow up on a farm to be successful, or can someone with no agriculture experience still thrive? The stories of two Tennessee FFA members, Cori Hopkins and Julia Crews, prove that there is no single path to success in FFA, and that both backgrounds are equally valuable.
Cori Hopkins, a senior at Paris High School and West Tennessee regional officer, grew up around agriculture through her grandparents’ beef and grain farm in Illinois. While she was familiar with farm life early on, her true involvement began when she started showing dairy cattle through her FFA Advisor Laura Moss. From there, Hopkins became more hands-on, helping with feeding and managing herd health alongside her grandpa.
As she continued showing beef cattle and joined FFA, she used contests like veterinary science to strengthen what she was already learning on the farm. Her agriculture background sparked her interest, but it was her decision to step into leadership, try new contests and grow personally that shaped her success in FFA. Hopkins has an agriculture background, which helped her get her foot in the FFA door. She’s had great success in her FFA career.
Julia Crews of Johnson County, Tenn., plans to pursue a future in agricultural education.
On the other hand, Julia Crews, a senior at Lincoln County High School and East Tennessee regional officer, entered FFA with little to no agriculture background. What she did have was a love for horses and a curiosity about agriculture. Her early experiences, feeding horses with her dad and joining 4-H in hopes of judging horses, laid the foundation for her journey.
When she joined FFA her freshman year, she quickly discovered opportunities that allowed her to grow, from serving as an FFA Creed speaker to competing in multiple contests. Through friendships, leadership roles, and hands-on experiences, Crews found a place where she could be herself and develop a deep appreciation for agriculture, eventually leading her to pursue a future in agricultural education. Although Crews does not has a significant background in agriculture, joining of FFA has lead to a beautiful passion and incredible success.
Together, Hopkins’ and Crews’ stories highlight an important truth: Success in FFA is not determined by where you start. Whether you grow up on a farm or are introduced to agriculture later in life, FFA provides opportunities for everyone. What matters most is your willingness to learn, get involved and step outside your comfort zone. FFA meets members where they are and helps them grow from there.
In the end, FFA is about more than agriculture, it’s about personal growth, leadership and community. Agriculture may be the starting point for some and the discovery for others, but it brings everyone together. No matter your background, FFA offers a place to belong, to lead and to succeed.
