Ridge Howell credits FFA for creating connections and opportunities that helped shape his future.
Howell, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, spoke at Native Voices, a program celebrating Native American heritage and inclusion at the 2012 National FFA Convention. There he met Janie Hipp, CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund and a USDA National Program Leader, who invited him to represent Native American voices in Washington, D.C. A connection made through his Checotah High School FFA advisor, Jason McPeak, helped Howell land a position as a policy fellow with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, promoting tribal solutions to food sovereignty.
“I grew up being involved with our tribe and, through FFA, I had the opportunity to be involved in tribal matters on the national level. That continued throughout [undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University] and law school,” he recalls. “I wanted to make a good career decision that would be personally fulfilling and allow me to use my knowledge and skill set to give back to others.”
A legal career proved to be the answer.
Foundations in FFA
After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a law degree in May 2020, Howell accepted a position at a law firm in Tulsa that focuses on protecting and enhancing Native American sovereignty.
Howell, who hopes to litigate cases in the courtroom, believes that FFA prepared him for the rigors of law school, a demanding legal career and a future arguing cases in front of juries.
“FFA has the best leadership program at the state and national level,” he says. “It taught me that whether I was waking up at 5 a.m. to wash show heifers before school or preparing for speech competitions, hard work paid off.”
While Howell hopes that his work to protect the sovereignty of Native American tribes will be an important part of his legacy, he also wants his future to include agriculture.
He maintains a herd of cattle in Checotah and plans to be an active member of his local FFA alumni and supporters chapter, in hopes of sharing his passion and helping up-and-coming FFA members maintain a connection to the land.
“I want to recognize what the agriculture industry has done for my family. It’s fed us, kept us clothed, and provided a connection to our land, to our past and to our community,” he says. “I want to stay connected to the land at a time when it’s so easy to be disconnected.”
