Kira Buckner, pictured above second from left, was an FFA member for only two years, but her time in FFA had a profound effect on her.
“I was in FFA from 2018 to 2020, and it was such a great experience,” recalls the 19-year-old from Covington, Ga. “The school I went to my first two years of high school did not have an FFA chapter. When I moved to Newton High School for 11th and 12th grades, I saw that the agriculture class had chickens and bunnies. I said, ‘I need to be in this class.’”
Buckner did not grow up around agriculture. Before she became a member, she attended an FFA wildlife camp that piqued her interest.
“When I noticed the FFA letters on the door at my new school, I immediately went to talk with the agriculture teacher. I changed my schedule that same day to be in the class,” Buckner says. “That September, I joined FFA, and I found my passion.”
One of her favorite memories from FFA was traveling to Washington, D.C., as a part of the floral design team for the First Lady’s Congressional Luncheon.
“We worked with some of the top florists in the country, as well as agriculture teachers from other states,” she recalls. “We even had the chance to meet some senators.”
The only thing missing from Buckner’s FFA experience was the iconic blue and gold FFA jacket. At that time, jackets cost $75, and she didn’t have the funds to purchase one herself. That’s where the Give the Gift of Blue program came in.
“I was given my FFA jacket my senior year. My agriculture teachers surprised me with it because I couldn’t afford one,” Buckner says. “It was the spring of 2020 during COVID, so I didn’t get to wear it to school much, but I was so happy to finally have a jacket. It’s now hanging on my wall.”
Buckner was so grateful for this gift that she wanted to return the favor. After graduating in 2020, she was working full time when she received an e-mail about Give FFA Day asking for contributions. She reflected on her experience and submitted a donation to the Give the Gift of Blue program.
“Because the Gift of Blue was a big deal to me and FFA meant so much to me, I wanted to help someone else have that same experience,” Buckner says. “I still help out at my high school as much as I can, and I know the chapter officers this past year all got their jackets through the Give the Gift of Blue program. The experience is irreplaceable.”
Buckner wants other FFA members and alumni to know it doesn’t matter how much money you can give — every bit helps.
“You never know what somebody’s going through. Some kids have crazy situations at home, and FFA can be their getaway. It can be the thing that keeps them going,” Buckner says. “The blue jacket is important. Receiving a jacket may be the one time a kid feels included and welcome, and that means a lot.”
