National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA: Program Overview, History and Plans

Program Overview: Description and Objectives

The National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA are a group of agriculture educators currently in the classroom. They are trained to answer questions and provide training related to the various educational resources and experiences the National FFA Organization offers. A group of qualified teachers is selected each Spring to serve in the program from June to June. Additionally, to continue professional development, the program has grown to include mentor National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA. Through this added layer, support and professional development can be amplified to meet the needs of the program.

Four Primary Objectives Guide the Program

1. Answer questions from agriculture educators and provide them with training and regular communications related to the various educational resources and experiences National FFA offers.
2. Provide relevant feedback from the educational field to National FFA.
3. Serve as an advocate of the organization to teachers within home states and others across the country.
4. Advance teacher ambassadors’ and other teachers’ professional growth.

Teacher Ambassadors Benefit From Professional Growth Opportunities

• All ambassadors attend an in-person training to learn about their role as ambassadors, National FFA resources, how to prepare and deliver educational sessions or workshops and other important aspects of being ambassadors. Training is a mandatory requirement for all program participants.
• Ambassadors deliver multiple educational workshops and gather feedback from participants.
• Throughout the year, ambassadors brainstorm and share ideas with teachers from across the country.
• Ambassadors are recognized by their peers as subject matter experts and are relied on for expert advice on FFA educational resources.

This role has transformed my outlook—turning feelings of burnout into renewed motivation through a supportive and collaborative network committed to agricultural education.

Emma Hendley, North Carolina

Where We’ve Been: History and Accomplishments

The program’s history spans from 2016 to the present. In Year 1 (2016-17), 24 ambassadors from 24 states served as the first cohort and learned about FFA educator resources, team building and workshop preparation at the first summer training. In Year 3 (2018-19), Herman and Bobbie Wilson made a major gift toward the program through the National FFA Foundation. In Year 5 (2020-21), summer training moved to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Year 6 (2021-22), the program surpassed 100 applicants, ambassadors with at least three years of service could apply as mentors, eight individuals served as the first group of Mentor Ambassadors, and Goodheart Wilcox Publishers came on board as a corporate partner. In Year 7 (2022-23), mentor ambassadors had a role during summer training for the first time and participated in mid-year touch-base calls with National FFA staff. In Year 9 (2024-25), development goals became a formal aspect of the program, a member of the National FFA State Relations Team joined program leadership, and summer training returned to a mandatory, 100% in-person format. In Year 10 (2025-26), 65 ambassadors from 28 states represent National FFA.

Showing Our Impact: Results from the Most Recent Ambassador Term

In 2024-25, there were 62 teacher ambassadors representing 30 states and Puerto Rico. Nine were mentor ambassadors, meaning they had served as an ambassador for at least three years and were selected by National FFA staff to support other ambassadors and their mentees.

Being part of the National FFA Teacher Ambassador program was such a fantastic experience! I really felt like I connected with other passionate educators and got to share my own ideas for making agricultural education even better for students. It was truly empowering and inspiring!

Jacob Ball, Kentucky

Advancing Teachers’ Professional Growth

At the end of their yearlong term:¹

• 100% of the 2024-25 teacher ambassadors told us that the program enhanced their ability to grow professionally. Specifically, ambassadors identified gaining knowledge of FFA resources, networking/meeting other agriculture teachers and becoming a resource for other teachers/serving teachers as ways they grew professionally.
• 87% told us that their experience was “much better” when compared to other professional development opportunities.
• Ambassadors assigned the program a rating of 4.74 out of 5 stars.

The National FFA Teacher Ambassador program provided me with the resources and support to thrive in difficult circumstances. Through the coaching, development and networking, I was able to show my school why my program is important and my abilities as a teacher. This year would have been much more stressful had I not been in this program.

AnnaMarie Sachs, South Dakota

Presenting Educational Workshops

Teacher ambassadors are expected to present a minimum of one educational workshop about educational resources and opportunities on behalf of National FFA. Of the 1,464 attendees at sessions presented by teacher ambassadors during the 2024-25 term, 99% said the sessions were worth their time.²

• 100% of attendees rated the session as good or excellent.
• 94% of attendees said that the facilitator was interactive or extremely interactive.
• 99% of attendees said that the facilitator was knowledgeable or extremely knowledgeable.
• 98% of sessions were reported as taking place in person, while 2% were presented virtually (live or pre-recorded).

Proven Over Time: Returning Teacher Ambassadors

The program launched in 2016 with 24 ambassadors serving that term. Year 4 saw the most program participants (83 ambassadors served in 2019-20). All teacher ambassadors are encouraged to reapply each year, and returning ambassadors who have served for three years can apply to be mentor ambassadors.

• Almost half (49%) of all applicants for the 2025-26 term had served previously as teacher ambassadors.
• The seven mentors serving in 2025-26 began as ambassadors in 2016 (2), 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (2), respectively.
• Of the 2025-26 ambassadors, two have taken at least one year off from the ambassador program at some point.
• Of the 2025-26 mentors, three have taken at least one year off from the ambassador program at some point.

Sixty-five ambassadors are serving in 2025-26, with over half having served previously.

Connection and Engagement: Mentor/Mentee Program and Goal Development

The mentor/mentee aspect of the program developed beginning in 2021 and into 2022-23. Today, the mentor/mentee relationships fostered throughout an ambassador term allow for professional development opportunities and an additional touchpoint through which program participants can connect and engage. Mentor ambassadors have a formal role during the annual training, support mentees during training and throughout the year, and participate in mid-year touch-base calls with National FFA staff.

Impact of the 2024-25 Mentor Ambassadors

Support of Teacher Ambassadors

• Mentors provided structured support to their mentees through check-ins. The majority of mentees indicated their mentor checked in with them more than three times per quarter.
• 88% of teacher ambassadors agreed or strongly agreed that they received effective coaching and actionable next steps from their mentor during goal-specific check-ins.
• The largest number of reported mentor/mentee check-ins were informal, personal check-ins. Other frequently discussed topics were program expectations and program goal development.

Growing Professionally as Mentors

• Nine mentors mentored 53 mentees. Each of the nine mentor groups included one mentor and five to six mentees.
• All nine mentor ambassadors said that the program enhanced their ability to grow professionally.
• All nine mentors rated their experience as better than other professional development opportunities.
• All nine mentors reported connecting with their fellow mentors more than three times per quarter, and all rated that contact as extremely useful.
• Mentors reported spending an average of 5.25 hours out of their month serving in their role.

Furthering Professional Development Through Goal Setting

A new program component focusing on goal development was implemented during the 2024-25 ambassador term. Ambassadors and mentors select goals from set categories and write a SMART goal specific to them. Most teacher ambassadors created a SMART goal falling in the category “Effectively promote resources and materials” (33%), followed by “Improve communication with stakeholders about National FFA educator resources and the ambassador program” (28%) and “Increase professional networking” (19%). Most mentors created goals in the categories “Foster collaboration and networking” (40%) and “Monitor progress and celebrate successes” (40%), with “Provide guidance and support” at 20%.

Where We’re Going: Plans for the Program

There are 65 teacher ambassadors serving in the 2025-26 term, which began in June 2025 and continues until June 2026. Seven are mentor ambassadors. The 2025-26 teacher ambassadors represent 28 states.

Fast Facts About the 2025-26 Teacher Ambassadors

• 86% are former members of the National FFA Organization.
• 91% are members of the National Association of Agricultural Educators.
• 45% are CASE certified and CASE lead teachers.
• 80% are traditional educators.
• 20% are alternatively certified or special/emergency grant educators.³

Starting the 2025-26 Term Strong With Summer Training

The 2025-26 participants attended in-person training to learn about their role as ambassadors, National FFA resources, and how to prepare and deliver educational sessions or workshops. The highest-rated statements on the post-training survey were: I am able to advocate for National FFA programs, opportunities and resources; I feel comfortable providing feedback to National FFA staff; I know who to contact at National FFA if I have questions; and I feel comfortable communicating with other teachers in my role as a teacher ambassador. The statements with the greatest increase in rating before and after training were: I understand the current projects of National FFA; I understand the current initiatives of National FFA; and I know what opportunities are available from National FFA for our stakeholders.