The Impact of Ffa in My Life

While being in FFA I have not only built a substantial amount of leadership skills, but it has given me the chance to meet so many people from all over the nation. Many of which are well known and have accomplished big things and can help shape my future to get me where I want to be successful.

I have been a part of livestock judging competitions all over the nation, horse judging, cattle grading contests, leadership conferences, workshops and so much more. FFA is more than being involved with livestock though, it gave me the opportunity to go meet new people and have the ability to present myself and have advanced public speaking skills.

I am no longer afraid to get in front of a crowd of people and talk and the most important thing I have learned is to laugh and not take myself to seriously! I’m proud to only be a junior and have already had many scholarship offers. During my time as an FFA officer and as President, I have been faced with many challenges and am expected to handle them as would any adult. It has given me the confidence and step ahead of many people in the world today.

Even though livestock is not everything in FFA, it is a large percentage of my life and why I’m involved in it. I have been able to rodeo, show, and judge around the nation with the support of my chapter. Growing up on a farm and having so many responsibilities for all the animals that are depending on you to keep them alive was taken on at an early age. Feeding and doctoring them I learned a lot how animals are and you learn to read the signs. At age thirteen I was delivering calves by myself and wouldn’t have been able to do it without going through the process so many times before with my dad.

FFA has become such a massive part of my life and made me into a completely different person. Looking back now I would not change a thing and don’t regret not having a “normal” high school social life. While many people were at football games on Friday nights, I was with my horse practicing for a rodeo the next day. I encourage everyone to join FFA, but don’t expect to receive something without first earing it! “As we mingle with others let diligent in life, courteous to everyone, and above all honest and fair in the game of life…Meeting adjourned!”

Works Cited

1. FFA. (n.d.). Home. FFA.
2. National FFA Organization. (2021). Official FFA manual. National FFA Organization.
3. Oliver, K. (2018). FFA at 90: Growth, changes and the future. Feedstuffs, 90(9), 10-12.
4. Prewitt, L. F. (2020). The impact of FFA membership on students in agricultural education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 61(3), 112-128.
5. Robinson, M. K., & Wells, J. T. (2021). Blue jackets to business suits: Investigating career readiness skills of former FFA members. Journal of Agricultural Education, 62(1), 140-156.
6. The National FFA Foundation. (n.d.). Scholarships. FFA. https://www.ffa.org/participate/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/
7. United States Department of Education. (2018). Perkins V – Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/sectech/leg/perkins/index.html
8. United States Department of Education. (2021). What is Career and Technical Education? https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cte/whatis.html
9. US News & World Report. (2021). Best high schools for STEM. US News & World Report Education.
10. Zimmerman, E., & Nafziger, M. (2021). Factors affecting FFA members' participation in leadership development events. Journal of Agricultural Education, 62(1), 61-73.