Letter From the Editor, Winter 2018

Make Your Mark

Winter 2018 FFA New Horizons cover

What difference would it make if you really committed to supporting the National FFA Organization or your local FFA chapter? I’m talking about a bold commitment to agricultural education that might even take you out of your comfort zone. Could the time, talent and treasure of just one person really make an impact and ignite support from others in the community? The answer is yes.

“High school students have so much good to offer the world, and all it takes is someone willing to facilitate those projects,” says Rachel Sauvola, the agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at New Richmond High School in New Richmond, Wis. Sauvola lives by that belief. She has been awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants for her program, has had 20 acres of land donated to create the New Richmond SOAR (Student Opportunities with Agricultural Resources) Educational Center, has had a new Dodge truck donated to the program, and has taken her winning World Dairy Expo dairy judging team on a two-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to judge cattle – all because she asked for community support.

Read more about her devotion to her chapter in “Wisconsin Community Goes All In for Agricultural Education.”

Maybe you’re not quite ready to take your community by storm. I understand that. In “How to Support Your Advisor,” we share some simple, but effective, ways for students, alumni and supporters, and community members to pitch in.

Enjoy and have a wonderful winter!

–Justin Davey

Editor, FFA New Horizons

ffanewhorizons@meredith.com