Alumni Archives

2018-19 National FFA Officers Become FFA Alumni

Q: Your time as a National FFA Officer came to an end at the 2019 National FFA Convention & Expo. How will you continue your FFA service as an alumni? FFA prepares us for what’s to come, no matter where that path takes us. Because of my experiences as an FFA member, I am more confident to live authentically and follow my passions. I look forward to living a life of service and kindness in our world that truly needs it. FFA members are ready to bring that to our world, and I am excited to help them do that even without my blue corduroy. - Luke O’Leary, National FFA President I really enjoy the close-to-home impact of grassroots involvement. I plan on joining with my local alumni chapter and working to strengthen our newer program, as well as share opportunities for our community supporters to get involved – even if they haven’t worn the blue jacket. - Layni LeBlanc, National FFA Secretary I’m excited to be a voice for the agriculture industry and to volunteer [...]

By Justin Davey|2019-11-21T10:54:22-05:00November 12th, 2019|Categories: Alumni & Supporters, FFA New Horizons, National Officers, The Feed|Tags: Alumni, alumni & supporters, answer, National Officer, Q&A, question|

Ag Executive Remembers His FFA Roots

David Hollinrake, president of Syngenta Seeds North America, shares his FFA story with current members of his former chapter.

By Jessica Wesson|2019-11-07T16:17:10-05:00October 31st, 2019|Categories: 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, FFA Membership, The Feed|Tags: 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, agriculture, Alumni, ffa, Illinois, Leadership, syngenta|

Past National Officer Recognizes the Unbreakable FFA Bond

Although successful careers and busy lives sometimes make it a challenge, FFA members maintain lifelong connections.

By Macey Hurst|2019-11-08T09:35:53-05:00October 31st, 2019|Categories: 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, FFA Membership, National Officers, The Feed|Tags: 25 years, agriculture, Alumni, anniversary, bond, ffa, Leadership, national ffa officer team, team, teammate|

Check IN to a Lifelong Community

Four FFA Alumni Check IN to share memories, lessons learned and opportunities afforded by their FFA membership.

By Jami Stall|2019-08-16T11:55:38-04:00August 16th, 2019|Categories: Alumni & Supporters, FFA New Horizons, The Feed|Tags: Alumni, alumni and supporters, check in, jacobi bedenfield, mollie branch, ryan jacobson, teresa milner|

On the Record: Kip Tom

Northern Indiana farmer, entrepreneur and former National FFA Foundation trustee Kip Tom.

By Gene Johnston|2019-06-06T14:21:08-04:00May 17th, 2019|Categories: Career Success, FFA New Horizons, On The Record, The Feed|Tags: Alumni, Ambassador, businessman, farmer, Indiana, lessons, UN|

Jump-Start Your Summer Reading With FFA New Horizons

The elephant wouldn't typically be considered a farm animal, read why it's featured on the cover FFA New Horizons magazine.

By Justin Davey|2019-05-20T15:50:55-04:00May 16th, 2019|Categories: FFA New Horizons, The Feed|Tags: Alumni, editor, Elephant feeder, Elephants, Puerto Rico, Summer 2019, Supporters, writer|

FFA Alumna Is a Natural Fit in Nature

As an education ranger, this FFA alumna spends time interacting with park visitors, delivering school programs and teaching others about natural resource systems.

By Bev Flatt|2021-03-09T13:28:59-05:00February 15th, 2019|Categories: Career Success, FFA New Horizons|Tags: agexplorer, Alumna, Alumni, career, National Parks, Natural Resources, Officer|

Q&A with Original FFA Band Member Neil Overly

Concert bands have been a fixture at the National FFA Convention since 1947, when the first official band was selected from FFA member tryouts. But that wasn’t the first band to play at the convention. An FFA band from Fredericktown, Ohio, performed in Kansas City at the fifth convention in 1933. Remarkably, two members of that band are still living – Linden Scheff (pictured above, left) and Neil Overly – and they attended a recent ceremony that recognized Fredericktown as the home of the FFA jacket. Overly, a retired farmer, turned 100 on Nov. 8. Here, he discusses his FFA experience and the years since. New Horizons: What is the background of that 1933 FFA convention band? Neil Overly: I grew up on the family farm and was a pretty good trumpet player, too. When I was 14 and a freshman in high school, the school FFA leader asked me to join FFA and go with them to Kansas City to play in a band he was taking. We rode the Buckeye Stages bus line and stayed overnight in Indianapolis. [...]

By Gene Johnston|2018-12-17T18:13:38-05:00December 10th, 2018|Categories: Alumni Focus|Tags: Alumni, band, national ffa band, neil, overly, sub stories|

Wisconsin Community Goes All In for Agricultural Education

The community of New Richmond, Wis. steps up in big ways to support its FFA chapter, thanks to the tireless efforts of the agricultural education instructor.